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EDITOR — Statistically, two years is becoming the “life-span” of a coach, notably local coaches in Zimbabwe’s domestic topflight league.

Those who stay longer than two years are deemed very lucky, fortunate and would have surpassed their “expiry date”.

To think that former Dynamos star Tonderai “Stanza” Ndiraya is now jobless is like a nightmarish dream for those coaches who are fighting relegation of their respective teams. Ndiraya is a proven winner, “miracle-worker” and ultimately one of the most outstanding local coaches in recent seasons.

In a period which also saw Ndiraya’s former club mate Lloyd “Samaita” Mutasa being brutally sacked by troubled Harare giants Dynamos FC, a sacking which seems to have opened the dismissal of coaches, Ndiraya’s axing by Mhondoro-based outfit Ngezi Platinum, is an unfortunate move which has divided opinion.

The odds of Ndiraya being sacked were very slim considering the way he transformed Ngezi Platinum from a modest side to title contenders within a short period. This is all largely attributed to sound financial backing and Ndiraya’s coaching prowess.

There is no doubt our local clubs are increasingly becoming disrespectful of local coaches and making it difficult for those aspiring to go into coaching soon after hanging their boots take that route.

Coaches’ sacking is now an addictive habit which is not only unpleasant but also unfair. Why dismiss a coach with a handful of games remaining?

Why shamelessly take a loyal servant like Mutasa and Ndiraya for granted? Why not accept that football is dynamic and this is an era where FC Platinum is ruling the roost?

It’s high time we penalise those clubs that dismiss coaches before the end of their contracts.

Felix Zonke, Harare