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Midlands Correspondent
VARSITY boys MSU have roped in former Shabanie Mine coach John Phiri as head coach for the 2016 season in line with the new Zifa minimum coaching requirements.

Outgoing MSU coach Temba Chingwena does not hold a Caf C licence, which has been set as the minimum requirement for one to coach a Division One club.

Previously, one could sit on the bench as head coach in the second tier league with a Zifa Level 4 coaching qualification.

MSU chairman Tino Muzikamwi said Phiri is set to officially start work this week.

“Negotiations with him are complete now and we should be unveiling him as our head coach this week when he’s also set to start preparations with the team for the new season,” said Muzikamwi.

He said Chingwena’s new role would be announced at Phiri’s unveiling.

Chingwena joined MSU during the mid-season break in 2015 following the sacking of the side’s entire technical department then led by Joseph Michael following a string of poor results.

He salvaged MSU’s campaign, which saw them ending the season in fourth place.

Phiri left Shabanie Mine in 2014 when the club was relegated from the PSL to Division One.

The nomadic coach was part of the FC Platinum technical team when the side won promotion to the topflight league in 2011 before he was later sacked.

In 2013, Phiri joined the now defunct Town United, a Beitbridge-based club owned by the local authority, and helped them finish second behind Chapungu.