IF THE Highlanders
Football Club stakeholders do not sit down to seriously discuss the club’s
plight and come up with a viable business plan, then we are most likely going
to see the inevitable deterioration of the team to an ordinary outfit. The
worst case scenarios would be synonymous to the demise of Zimbabwe Saints or
that of Kennedy Sibanda’s Eagles FC. I know it sounds farfetched but if
Highlanders is left on its current path, then it is surely a plausible
prediction.
Just to contextualize my concerns, Highlanders Chairman, Themba Ndlela says, “We are focusing on junior development because it is a critical element that will bring solutions to a number of the club’s problems. The academy will not only allow us to develop players that will come into the first team but players we can also market to other clubs, both locally and internationally”.
How can a team base its business
strategy on developing players and then selling them to competition? The
statement uttered by Ndlela makes us understand that his current business
strategy is that of selling the best players to other teams in order to keep Highlanders
afloat. His strategy does not seek to make Highlanders a dominant force, which
will attract and retain players, attract supporters and sponsors to the
Highlanders brand. Just to contextualize my concerns, Highlanders Chairman, Themba Ndlela says, “We are focusing on junior development because it is a critical element that will bring solutions to a number of the club’s problems. The academy will not only allow us to develop players that will come into the first team but players we can also market to other clubs, both locally and internationally”.
A good beginning for any effective Highlanders Chairman would be to: 1) put in place well qualified and knowledgeable administrators and technical team, 2) Develop a viable business plan 3) Attract and retain the best players, 4) Win games, 5) Attract back the supporters, and 6) Attract sponsors.
Obviously one would say to achieve this requires resources. Indeed, it does but that should be the work of competent administrators and technical team. Administrators will be able to get resources and results if they develop and implement a 2 to 5 year viable plan. Sponsors and former Highlanders players will be able to volunteer or even forego lucrative appointments elsewhere if they are incorporated into a business plan that demonstrates viability in 2 years. We have many former players who have demonstrated concern about Highlanders and are willing to assist in any way possible. The body established by former players is an example. We can exploit the expertise contained in that body for administrative or technical skills. We can also take our viable plan to a bank or any potential sponsor. But we have to demonstrate how we will create value for both the Highlanders brand and the sponsor. Needless to say that we must also put forward a credible repayment plan of the funds advanced to bring to fruition to our business plan.
But for us to achieve this we have to dream big and refuse to be confined to small dreams that keep Highlanders barely surviving.
Next, I’ll discuss the issue of whether Highlanders should remain a community-owned team or be privatized!
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