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Joey Antipas

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
JOE Antipas, recently fired as coach by South African Premiership side AmaZulu, has revealed an interest from struggling Yadah FC who have an on-off relationship with coach Jairos Tapera.

Speaking to South African online site Kickoff.com, the championship winning coach with Motor Action and Chicken Inn, however, said he was not in a hurry to get back to the dugout.

“I have heard about that (Yadah), but I am not in a rush for now. I have to play the waiting game for now. I am not in a rush for now because local (South African) clubs are only starting out for now,” Antipas told the publication.

Besides an interest from Yadah FC,  the mentor’s name has also reportedly been mentioned in the Highlanders’ circles and is known to be close friends with the Bulawayo giants’ assistant coach Amini Soma-Phiri.

Bosso will be without a head coach at the end of the season after Dutchman Erol Akbay told the media that he will not be renewing his contract, regardless of the club’s financial situation.

“Highlanders are already in the hunt for a new man to head the dugout as it is now apparent that nothing will stop Akbay from packing his bags at the end of the season or even before by the look of things and Antipas is one guy that the club has respect for. He is also not in the numerous  so called camps,” said a Highlanders source.

Chronicle Sport is also reliably informed that Hwange goalkeepers’ coach Chenjerai Dube, who had stints with the Bulawayo giants, is also being courted and emissaries had been sent to talk him into joining the black and white army as their goalkeepers’ coach next season.

Stand-in goalkeepers’ coach and club legend Peter “Oxo” Nkomo will be seconded to the juniors where his task would be to produce top quality goalkeepers for the first team in a new-look Highlanders structure next year that will be in line with club licensing.

Antipas was fired at the beginning of last week along with his assistant Prince Matore after being in charge for a single season and finishing fifth to miss out on the National First Division play-offs spot by just two points.

With Usuthu then buying the PSL status of Thanda Royal Zulu during the off-season, Antipas’ sacking came as he was anticipating his first taste of South African top-flight football.

“I was preparing the team for the season and it is unfortunate it happened that way. I have to take it on the chin and move on now,” Antipas told KickOff.com.