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Peter Dube

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders will have a new coach by Christmas Day with former Zimbabwe Saints coach and long time Bosso supporter Bongani Mafu odds on favourite to land the hot seat.Mafu, if confirmed as expected, will take over from Zambian Kelvin Kaindu who resigned in October after a 1-3 loss to ZPC Kariba.

Current first team manager and club legend Willard Mashinkila Kumalo will likely be re-deployed within the club structures.

Highlanders chairman Peter Dube, however, said the club has not appointed anyone as yet but would do so before the holidays so that “our new man hits the ground running in January next year”.

He said the club was still consulting various sources on the ideal candidate in an effort to come up with the best coach for Highlanders.

“We’ve not finalised on the coach issue, we know that people are anxious about it but look, our interest is to have the best coach taking over at the club. I remain confident that by Christmas Day, we’ll have announced who’ll coach Bosso next year,” said Dube.

Sources though said Mafu was seen at the club offices yesterday morning going through and signing what looked like contract papers.

He has previously expressed his desire to coach Amahlolanyama.

Dube said their choice of the coach would also be determined by the budgetary issues especially after sponsors BancABC reduced their sponsorship package.

“We’ll stand guided by our budget limitations whether we hire a local coach or a foreign one,” said the Highlanders chairman.

It is believed that Mafu was strongly recommended by the Highlanders board while the executive wanted him to understudy former Millwal assistant coach Desmond Bulpin who is one of many coaches, local and foreign, who submitted their CVs upon Kaindu’s resignation.

The club appears to have taken a position to cut on expenditure by engaging Mafu who would be cheaper than a foreigner whom they would have to pay more than $4,000 a month, get him accommodation, transport here and fly him and his family abroad.

As an austerity in view of BancABC’s move, the board advised the executive to throw Mafu, who has been based in the United Kingdom, into the deep end as they believed he has the technical prowess and stamina to lead Bosso.

Asked on whether the new coach would come up with his own backroom staff, Dube said they would make sure the gaffer’s recommendations are taken into account.

“The good thing is that the Highlanders constitution clearly states that the executive has the power to appoint a technical team so while the coach might have his opinion, we’ll be there to advise him, especially with the view of protecting the club culture, history and legacy,” said Dube in an indication that a former player might assist Mafu.

“It’s not a God-given right to have our former players but I believe it’s good and most ideal to have those who played for us in there regardless of whether they were brilliant in their playing days or not. There’re those whom you guys call legends, who were good in their hey days but that does not necessarily translate to being good on the technical bench,” said Dube.