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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC coach Bongani Mafu should be thanking his gods after the club decided to indefinitely postpone the team’s performance review after 10 games, giving him more time to prove his mettle.According to Highlanders sources, Mafu has failed to meet contractual obligations as his pact with Bosso has a clause stating that he has to garner 18 points out of a possible 30 from his first 10 official league games.

This publication has it on good authority that the Bosso leadership is cautious not to repeat the same mistake it made when it parted ways with former coach Kelvin Kaindu without a replacement at hand, last season.

After Sunday’s 2-0 win against lowly placed Whawha, the Highlanders bosses are of the view that the next four encounters will be key to Mafu’s survival.

Highlanders travel to Zvishavane for a date with FC Platinum on Saturday.

Bosso take on How Mine in a Bulawayo derby after the platinum miners’ test followed by an away trip to Dynamos before wrapping up the first half of the season with a home game against the Kaindu coached Triangle United.

The source said a number of things had been considered and the onus was now on the coach who has to deliver in the next games. “The executive doesn’t want to make the same mistake and just fire him because everyone believes that we’re still in the championship race. If he wins the next four games starting with FC Platinum, the better for him because there’s a general feeling that we’re only beating weak teams,” said the source.

Bosso chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede publicly stated at the beginning of the season that a review would be done after 10 games to see if the club “is still within the target it set at the beginning of the year”.

Highlanders played their 10th game of the season a fortnight ago and lost 1-2 to Chicken Inn but the executive failed to meet for a review meeting after that game as they did not form a quorum.

Club chairman Peter Dube was in South Africa as the Warriors’ head of delegation at the Cosafa tournament while his Harare based deputy Mgcini Mpofu couldn’t make it due to pressing business commitments.

Without a treasurer, the only executive committee members available were secretary-general Emmett Ndlovu and Wisdom Mabhena.

Gumede revealed yesterday that the executive met on Sunday morning before the Whawha game to plan for the FC Platinum match.

“The issue of reviewing the team’s performance, particularly the coach, is a delicate one because you need to have all sub-committees present. We’ve the legal, finance and human resources committees that have to attend that review. We’ll stage that review meeting at a date convenient to members of these various sub-committees,” Gumede said.

It is Gumede’s comments that give a hint that Mafu is not going anywhere — at least for now as no tentative date has been set for a review meeting.

Highlanders currently lie seventh on the table with 17 points after 11 outings and trail log leaders Chicken Inn by six points.

FC Platinum are tied on points with Bosso and are no pushovers meaning the Bulawayo giants have to be at their best to collect maximum points in Zvishavane.

Even getting a point at Mandava would still be good for Mafu because FC Platinum are one of the most formidable teams with their fluid passing game and have proved hard to beat at home.

Mafu has to come up with a winning strategy to renew the leadership’s trust in him as they have been firm in supporting him in the wake of heightened calls by the club’s restless fans for his dismissal.

Fixtures

Friday: Harare City v Chapungu (Rufaro)

Saturday: Chicken Inn v Buffaloes (Luveve), FC Platinum v Highlanders (Mandava), Dynamos v Triangle United (Rufaro)

Sunday: How Mine v ZPC Kariba (Luveve), Whawha v Hwange (Ascot), Tsholotsho FC v Caps United (White City), Flame Lily v Dongo Sawmill (Lafarge)