Luphahla takes the reins at Border Strikers
FORMER Highlanders and Warriors attacking midfielder Joel Luphahla has been appointed as coach of Beitbridge-based side Border Strikers Football Club.
Luphahla is taking over the coaching position from Luke “Vahombe” Masomere whose contract was not renewed after it expired in November last year. He will be joined by Thomas Banda who will be his assistant and Tirivaviri Sithole as goalkeepers’ coach.
Border Strikers (Vhavheneki) were relegated from the premiership last season after they finished in the bottom of the league with 15 points after registering four wins and three draws. They will be playing in the Zifa Central Region Division One League this coming season. Luphahla, a Caf B Coaching Licence holder signed a three-year contract with the club and his main task is to return Border Strikers back to the Premiership come 2018 season. “I would like to thank the club for giving me the opportunity to be their coach while the other teams were saying I’m still new in coaching and I do not have experience. It doesn’t matter how many years one plays football, coaching is another different story. I’m hoping to take things slowly as there is no need to rush. I believe in passion, my whole career has always been about pressure and I hope it will drive me to success. There are a lot of talented teams and coaches in the Central Region and I will try my best to learn from them and from my players.
“In years to come, I also want to mentor the Zimbabwe’s Under-17, Under-20 and Under-23 squads because I love working with youngsters. I have worked in my own academy, Dubai7 Soccer Academy which has produced the likes of Bosso star Adrian Silla and Gerald Takwara (FC Platinum) just to mention a few.
“I have also worked with Lloyd Chitembwe at Caps United,’ he said.
The veteran midfielder then gave credit to the likes of Tsholotsho coach Lizwe Sweswe, former Dynamos coach Tonderai Ndiraya, and Warriors interim coach Norman Mapeza who are helping him prior to his first season as coach.
According to Luphahla, the team is now focusing on pre-season training before the Central Region League season roars to life on 8 April. In recent seasons, Luphahla was at Premiership side Tsholotsho, where he started off as team manager before dusting his boots two years ago to play again, and save the club from relegation.
Border Strikers’ chairman, Mandla Combat Moyo, said the team chose Luphahla because he was young and had a lot to achieve in his coaching career.
“Joel is still young and energetic. His vision is to promote junior policy, the same vision which the club has,” said Moyo
During his career as a footballer, Luphahla played as an attacking midfielder for various teams locally and abroad. He played for Bulawayo giants Zimbabwe Saints, Highlanders, Cyprus AEP Paphos FC (Cyprus), Silver Stars (South Africa), SuperSport United (South Africa) before playing for Caps United and Tsholotsho Football Club. He has been capped for the Zimbabwean national team and played in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was also in the team that clinched the 2000 Cosafa cup.