Parting of the ways
Fana quits as Bulldogs’ coach
BORDER Rugby Union (BRU) have parted ways with Border Bulldogs head coach Elliot Fana.
This after the two parties could not agree on the terms of employment, especially on Fana going fulltime in the job.
Fana was juggling between being Bulldogs coach and University of Fort Hare director of rugby. But BRU suggested he dump his UFH job and invest 100% in the Bulldogs, instead Fana chose Fort Hare which led to the parting of ways.
BRU administrator Monde Tabata yesterday confirmed that Fana was no longer in the employ of Border but refused to divulge reasons, saying it was a matter between employer and employee. But three independent sources within Border told this scribe that Fana was not willing to take the Bulldogs hot seat on a full-time basis.
Fana, after two seasons on the job took Bulldogs to their best finish in the Currie Cup First Division in more than a decade as they finished in the semifinal of the competition.
But with his departure now a done deal, his assistant David Dobela has been called to step in on an interim basis. This while the union’s High Performance Committee will be assessing Dobela and shopping around for a coach.
Should Dobela do well, hinted Tabata, he may well be appointed on a full-time basis.
However, should he struggle, Border will look elsewhere and the Dispatch understands that the likes of East London Police rugby club coach Allister Alexander is among the frontrunners for the job.
Alexander is among the most decorated and successful club rugby coaches in the province in the past five years where he led Old Selbornians and Police respectively to finishing top of the Border Super League among other achievements.
Tabata commented on the Bulldogs coach vacancy: “Yes Elliot Fana is no longer the Bulldogs coach for the upcoming 2017 season but reasons thereof remain between us and him and not for public consumption because employment contracts are confidential.
“However, we can say David Dobela will be taking over as caretaker coach for now until such time the High Performance Committee meets and consider their options after assessing him.
“And good for him he has been part of the coaching team that was led by Mr Fana and therefore the mandate remains the same for 2017 which to improve on the momentum of 2016 because Bulldogs are capable of winning the Currie Cup First Division.”
Tabata continued that the change would not have that much effect on Bulldogs going into the new season with plenty time before in season and majority of the technical team remains the same.
The only new person on the technical team is Tiger Mangweni who was recently roped in as defence coach to give Bulldogs some teeth.
Fana was not willing to talk on his departure from the Border setup. —