SOCCER – SENATOR Ngom’yayona Gamedze is set to be elected as Mbabane Highlanders’ new Board of Directors’ Chairman on Monday, this publication has reliably been informed.

It has been confirmed that the term of office for the current board, headed by Charles ‘Ace’ Jele, has expired, hence elections for the new board would be conducted on Monday.

Gamedze, a former C&M Sales and Sihlangu Manager, is the favourite to replace Jele after confirming to this publication yesterday that he has joined Highlanders’ directorship structure and would accept appointment as the new chairman of the board if elected.

Interestingly, Jele could be voted out of office in absentia as he left with His Majesty King Mswati III’s delegation for overseas over the weekend. In essence, this means Monday’s elections would be conducted in his absence.

Highlanders’ Management Committee (MC) Chairman Musa Masuku announced on Wednesday that the team was on the lookout for new people to join the directorship structure and it can be confirmed that Gamedze is amongst the first people to have declared their interest in forming part of the structure.

Former Highlanders player Lucky Mahlalela has also indicated his interest in being a director in the team. The team’s patron, Isaac Shabangu, in an exclusive interview yesterday, asserted that Gamedze and Mahlalela have joined the team as directors.

“I can confirm that Ngomuyayona Gamedze and Lucky Mahlalela have joined the team as new directors. It’s also true that the team would be having elections for the new board of directors on Monday next week,” Shabangu pointed out.

Asked on the reports that the patrons have endorsed the appointment of Gamedze as the board new chairman, Shabangu could neither confirm nor deny it.

elections

“Obviously, there is bound to be lobbying amongst the directors in view of the elections but I would not commit myself on the reports that we (patrons) have our ideal candidate for the chairmanship position.

“At the end of the day, the patrons do not take part in the elections, it’s the directors themselves that choose the chairman,” he explained.

Gamedze, when approached for comment, also confirmed that he has joined Highlanders as a director. “It’s not a secret that I’m now a Highlanders’ director but as for the chairmanship position, I will leave that to Highlanders’ people to decide. If Highlanders’ family feel that I deserve to be elected the new chairman, then I’ll be more than willing to take that challenge,” the outspoken Senator said. The capital giants have been littered with some serious administrative problems that have led to calls within certain quarters of the team for Jele to step down as chairman.

Further information digging by this newspaper revealed that the patrons have also met estranged assistant coach Zonke Mawelela and manager Mbongiseni ‘Mthofi’ Khumalo to establish the cause of their departure from the team.

It has emerged that Mawelela met with patrons’ secretary Themba Mabuza this week while Khumalo was apparently contacted by Gamedze himself. There is now a strong possibility that the two could be recalled to the team after Gamedze is elected the new chairman.