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Tennant Chilumba

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
HIGHLANDERS FC have dismissed speculation that former Hwange and FC Platinum coach Tennant Chilumba could be heading to the fading Bulawayo giants next year.

Sources close to the club said Highlanders’ chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede had been negotiating with the Zambian, voted Zimbabwe’s best coach in 2012 after guiding Hwange to a fourth place finish in the league.

Club chairman Peter Dube yesterday referred all questions to the chief executive officer.

“Those are administrative issues which are handled by Gumede so get in touch with him over that. Personally, I am not aware of such a move but you never know and I don’t want to say something while our chief executive officer also says a different thing,” said Dube.

Gumede denied talking to Chilumba.

“There is nothing like that at the moment,” he said.

A number of names have been touted as interested in taking over from Kelvin Kaindu with Gumede last week confirming that a Brazilian had also sent in his resume.

Another man who is said to have been speaking to Bosso is George Harrison formerly with Maritzburg in South Africa.

“Chilumba is the odds-on favourite to replace his countryman, it looks like the club wants to give him a three-year contract but at the moment they can’t confirm him because of the imminent elections next year,” said the source.

The Dube executive fears that they might employ someone who might not be accomodated by a new executive if they are voted out of office at the end January.

Other names that have been touted as possible replacements for Kaindu include former Coach of the Year Philani “Beefy” Ncube who sources said might also be considered as an assistant to Chilumba, former player and coach Mkhuphali Masuku, Bantu Rovers coach Mandla Mpofu, club legends Madinda Ndlovu and Rahman Gumbo.

There has also been a school of thought that Highlanders should employ a coach who will not be swayed by club politics or perceived camps which might work in the Brazilian, Chilumba and Harrison’s favour.