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Jairos Tapera

Fungai Muderere, Sports Reporter
FORMER Zimbabwe Under-20 national soccer team coach Jairos Tapera has parted ways with South African National First Division side Black Leopards following a string of poor results.

In an interview from Swaziland, Tapera’s manager Dingane Maduna said the Zimbabwean had left amicably ahead of their league game against Witbank Spurs on Saturday.

“Jairos’ last day in office at Black Leopards was on Monday. The two parties amicably came to the decision. As a good coach, Tapera saw that the results were not coming and the players were not responding and he decided to step aside.

“We have discussed his payout and he will get it,” said Maduna.

Tapera called it quits after his side surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 2-3 to Stellenbosch with 20 minutes to go. Black Leopards conceded two goals in the final eight minutes.

Leopards are eighth on the league table with 12 points from nine games.

Asked where Tapera was headed, Maduna said: “Nothing concrete has come out with regards to offers. We are waiting for real offers.”

He said he was satisfied with the way Tapera had guided Leopards in the matches he had been in charge.

Tapera became the fourth South African National First Division coach to vacate his position in the 2016/17 season so far.

Meanwhile, AmaZulu have backed their coach Joey Antipas despite reports suggesting that he was about to be sacked.

A statement by the club’s general manager Lunga Sokhela read:

“We’re completely dumbfounded by the claim and we would like to put on record that the directors of AmaZulu, management and players are completely behind coach Joey Antipas.

“The mood is very good at the club and we’re all fully committed to our effort as a club to fight for promotion under coach Joey Antipas.”

@FungieMuderere.