Zimpapers Logo

Kelvin Kaindu

Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
KELVIN Kaindu is set to sign a three-year deal as the new How Mine head coach on Monday, Chronicle Sport can reveal.

The Zambian is said to have agreed terms with the Bulawayo gold miners this week and what is left is for him to sign the contract.

Sources said national Under-23 goalkeepers’ coach Tembo “Chokri” Chuma and former Highlanders’ captain Bekithemba “Super” Ndlovu will assist Kaindu, who resigned as Triangle United coach at the beginning of November.

Kaindu worked with Chuma and Ndlovu during his tenure at Highlanders where he led Bosso to two consecutive second place finishes behind Dynamos in 2012 and 2013.

“How Mine and Kaindu have agreed in principle and what is left is for him and his technical staff to sign their contracts. Because of personal commitments he had in Zambia, he couldn’t travel to Zimbabwe this week. He will only be in Bulawayo on Monday morning to seal the deal. How Mine want to conclude the deal before Christmas so that they hear what the coach’s pre-season plans are,” said the source.

The How Mine coaching job fell vacant in September after the sacking of Luke Masomere following a string of poor results.

The gold miners, who started the season as one of the championship favourites following huge buys, had an indifferent 2015 campaign, going on a 14-match winless streak in the last half of the season.

Their last victory was on May 12 when they beat Buffaloes 1-0.

The firing of Masomere did little to ease the miners’ woes, as replacement co-coaches Jeremiah Makota and Sheunesu Chaka failed to turn around the team’s fortunes.

How Mine chairman Paul McAndrew confirmed that they would be finalising on their coach on Monday.

“The successful candidate will be announced on Monday. You can get hold of me on Monday afternoon when we would have completed the process. At the moment I can’t tell you who the person is, but we’ve agreed on everything and what is left is for him to sign the contract,” said McAndrew.

Chances are high that the new How Mine coach will wield the axe on most ageing players as the club is reportedly targeting youthful players.

Sources close to How Mine and Kaindu said the Zambian’s key result areas are relaxed, with the club aiming at improving on their awful 2015 campaign and challenging for top honours in 2017 and 2018.

“Because of the position that How Mine are coming from, they have set realistic targets of having a better 2016 season and then going for top honours in the following seasons.

“There are going to be some changes with some of the older players set to leave the club. Kaindu has some players in mind and he will be presenting his wish list to the How Mine leadership on Monday.

“The club also wants unheralded players from the lower leagues and that is where Bekithemba Ndlovu comes in as he was coaching Indlovu Iyanyathela in the Southern Region Soccer League and knows most of the players in the First Division,” said the source.