Madinda appointed Highlanders coach
New technical teams on show during pre-season
A HOST of Castle Lager Premiership clubs are expected to start pre-season preparations next week with new technical teams.
Pre-season is usually a period spiced up by player transfers, rumours and speculation, but the movement of coaches seems to dominate the build-up to the 2018 season.
A number of names had been linked to the Highlanders’ job over the past few months, with their former coaches Amini Soma-Phiri, Rahman Gumbo, Madinda Ndlovu and Bekithemba Ndlovu all being mentioned.
The Bulawayo giants finally settled for Madinda Ndlovu, with former Bulawayo City gaffer Mandla Mpofu as his assistant.
After a long spell in Botswana where he coached Township Rollers, Mochudi Centre Chiefs and Orapa, Madinda Ndlovu will be making a comeback to Bosso following his previous stint in 2009.
Bulawayo City also named Darlington Dodo, formerly with Tsholotsho, to head their dugout for the 2018 season after parting ways with Mpofu.
City finished the 2017 season just one place and one point above the relegation zone, and the club decided against continuing with Mpofu. Gumbo and SomaPhiri had also been linked to the job.
The municipal side also roped in the services of BULAWAYO giants Highlanders yes yesterday officially announced club legend M Madinda Ndlovu as head coach on a thre three-year contract. As reported by Chronicle Sport yesterday, the legendary N Ndlovu wi will be assisted by Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu, while Vezigama Dlodlo keeps his p position as first team welfare w manager. Ndlovu won three former Chicken Inn goalkeepers’ coach Julius Ndlovu.
Bekithemba Ndlovu has been appointed How Mine head coach, replacing Kelvin Kaindu, who returned to his native Zambia following a tumultuous season.
How Mine faced financial problems last season that at times forced Kaindu to shed tears during interviews.
Herbert Maruwa dumped MTN National First Division title chasers Mbabane Citizens in Swaziland to join army side Black Rhinos as their new head coach.
Maruwa replaced former Rhinos star midfielder Stanford “Stix” M’tizwa. Another former Rhinos’ player Gift Kamuriwo is the new team manager, with Brighton Chandisaita coming in as physical trainer.
Chicken Inn, the 2015 league champions have parted ways with coach Rahman Gumbo and are expected to name a new technical set-up on Monday.
The Gamecocks finished the season in fourth place, 11 points behind champions FC Platinum, having been among the title favourites at the beginning of the 2017 season. The club hierarchy decided against renewing Gumbo’s contract, which expired in December. Their championship winning coach Joey Antipas and his assistant Prince Matore are likely to make a sensational return to the Gamecocks.
Antipas masterminded the Gamecocks’ 2015 title triumph before leaving for the then South African back-to-back league titles in Botswana with Mochudi Centre Chiefs (2011/12 and 2012/13) and Township Rollers (2013/14).
He then left Rollers to join Orapa United and led them to the 2016 Mascom Top 8 triumph. However, the league title has continued to elude Ndlovu on the local scene.
Although Bosso called off their weekly press conference yesterday, chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube released a statement that also named the club’s junior coaches and managers.
Melusi “Mabaleka” Sibanda remains the developmental side coach and will be assisted by Gift Lunga Jr, who also remains the Under-18 head coach.
Sizabantu Khoza will take charge of the Under16s, while the Under-14s will be coached by Daniel Ngwenya. Smart Moyo is the juniors’ manager, while Marko Dube is the developmental side manager.
The medical department will be headed by Hillary Tshuma and the long-serving Loyal Nyika remains the physiotherapist.
“The technical manager and his staff have National First Division side AmaZulu. The former Warriors’ assistant coach parted ways with the Durbanbased side in June last year.
ZPC Kariba have settled for Godfrey Tamirepi as Sunday Chidzambwa’s replacement after a drama-filled 2017 season. Chidzambwa’s relationship with the ZPC Kariba executive crumbled mid-season and it was not surprising when he announced that he would not be returning to the side at the end of the season.
Tamirepi is not new to ZPC Kariba, having previously worked at the club as Saul Chaminuka’s assistant.
With former Warriors’ gaffer Calisto Pasuwa announcing his desire commenced the process of player selection. The list of the 2018 senior squad will be announced in due course,” read the statement.
The goalkeepers’ coach was not named amid revelations that a third force wants to influence the process despite Ndlovu having settled for Tembo Chuma, who has had stints with the club before and was attached to How Mine last season.
Club legend, Peter Nkomo was in charge of the goalkeeping department in the second half of the season last year following the demotion of Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu to the juniors. Nkomo’s contract expired on December 31, 2017. “Ndlovu named his goalkeepers’ coach, but it looks like someone not directly involved with the day-today running of the club is still influencing or trying to influence matters, hence the decision not to announce the goalkeepers’ coach. But from the look of things, the chap is fighting a losing battle, as confirmation of Chuma is imminent,” said a club source. — @ skhumoyo2000 to return to club coaching, more twists remain in the offing ahead of the 2018 season. — @innocentskizoe