Kaindu on the brink Kelvin Kaindu
Kelvin Kaindu

Kelvin Kaindu

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
EMBATTLED Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu was on the brink last night after an abject 3-1 defeat to ZPC Kariba at Hartsfield left them trailing Dynamos by seven points with six matches still to play.Highlanders fans voiced their anger at the final whistle by throwing stones and bottles at Kaindu and his players who huddled together in the centre circle for at least 10 minutes.

Police fired teargas to disperse the rowdy fans and make it possible for both sets of players to finally make their way to the dressing rooms.

Several fans were treated for injuries after clashes with the police who had to break up groups of stone-throwing hooligans camped outside the ground.

The fans were threatening attacks on some of the players who were accused of not putting enough effort.

Kaindu spent nearly an hour in the dressing room after police advised him it was not safe to leave.

He spoke to his players and technical team during that time, triggering speculation that he had resigned. The speculation appeared to have started with some players who told reporters that Kaindu had intimated that he was leaving.

“The coach addressed us and said it had been good working with us,” one player told Chronicle Sport. “He didn’t say exactly that he was stepping down, but the impression we got from his address and his facial expressions was that he was bidding us farewell.”

But Kaindu – who has been given an ultimatum by club bosses to win the league or be fired – emerged to face reporters and dismissed the rumours that he was throwing in the towel.

“I know people are very angry, and rightly so, but I’m still in charge. This stuff about me stepping down is just rumours,” he said.

Premier Soccer League president and Caps United chairman Twine Phiri, who was at the match on a spying mission with his coach, Taurai Mangwiro, ahead of their clash with Highlanders next week, condemned the violence.

“Playing at home is not a guarantee of winning and our fans should always bear that in mind,” said Phiri as he surveyed the Hartsfield pitch that was littered with stones and other missiles that rained in the direction of the players and match officials.

Several former Highlanders players who were at the match were mobbed by fans demanding to know what was wrong with their club, but few had answers.

Former coach Rahman Gumbo had a tough time trying to negotiate his way out of the stadium after being besieged by fans, some calling for his return to the club.

At the Highlanders Club House, scores of dejected fans sat digesting the defeat which saw them slipping from second to fourth behind Dynamos, ZPC Kariba and Caps United.

Former stars Zenzo Moyo and Amin Soma Phiri were among the fans.

“I think this problem is more than Kaindu, but he alone can come out and say what the problem is,” said Moyo.

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