All quiet on the Igesund front

Sy Lerman

A month ago it was widely bandied about that Gordon Igesund, the PSL’s most successful coach with four Premier League titles to his credit at four different clubs, was poised to become Zambia’s new national coach.

Since then, instead of the deal being concluded, a deafening silence has emerged regarding what had been suggested was close to a done deal.

What is more, Igesund has lately been as difficult to contact as reclusive actress Greta Garbo was in her heyday, while the normally flamboyant coach’s agent, Mike Makaab, has been equally as evasive and non-committal.

And, apart for anything else, the Zambian coaching position might not at this moment appear as attractive as it initially seemed, with the job, in fact, taking on the guise of a poisoned chalice for anyone who eventually takes it on.

The reason? The first task of the new Zambian coach will be to guide the national team to success in the coming 2018 World Cup qualifiers – with Zambia engulfed in what could rightly be termed assuredly as a “Group of Death” in view of the three other teams competing for one place in Russia made up of Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon.

Indeed, Zambia’s opening World Cup qualifying game in little more than a month’s time is against Nigeria – definitely not an ideal time for the new coach to take over.

Makaab, however, says Igesund’s discussions with the Zambian Football Federation are still in the pipeline and that political complications related to the country’s elections may have delayed any finality.

Also it has emerged that Igesund is not the only candidate the Zambian Football Association are considering, with Frenchman Sebastein Desabre, Croatian Goran Stevanovic and Swiss Raoul Savoy also under the microscope.

As for Igesund, like the fabled Brer Rabbit, he is saying exactly “nuffin”.