HIGHLANDERS are US$144,000 in debt and will struggle to mount a challenge for the league title this year, club chairman Themba Ndlela has revealed.
The club made an appeal to 100 members attending an annual general meeting last week but raised just $10.
Now Ndlela warns the country’s oldest football club will struggle to fulfil some of its away matches when the Premier Soccer League season gets underway next month.
Ndlela said: "I am really saddened by the lack of generosity of our members. I think as a people we ought to be ashamed of ourselves and if there is any reason for this then we ought to know.
"Is it possible that most people only come to meetings to criticise those in office, but when asked to donate something to show their commitment they develop cold feet?
"Many of these are the very people who only appear from the woodwork in January and in June. You will find a situation where those who have the right leadership qualities end up fearing to come into office because of the barrage of sometimes irrelevant questions.
"How do we build and maintain the system if all we do is to criticise without even offering solutions or showing our commitment?"
Ndlela said Highlanders picked up most of the debt on air travel during their unsuccessful African Confederations Cup campaign in 2008.
Highlanders have not won any cup in three years and have seen their match-day attendances fall to an all-time low.
Ndlela insists the club’s supporters must do more to fill the financial hole.
Writing on the club’s website, Ndlela added: "We had asked members to make donations given the situation but if we are grouped together and no response is forthcoming, it is disappointing. How are we going to run the club? Members must commit themselves to the club.
"We (the executive) represent the members and they are the owners of the club. When we call for donations, one expects the response to be positive. Members must lead by example. If they do not lead by example, who else will?
"We need them to be at the forefront of fundraising activities.”