Sekhukhune, Tembo part ways
EXACTLY six months after former Dynamos centre- back and captain Kaitano Tembo was fired for the first time in his coaching career in South Africa, the Zimbabwean gaffer finds himself jobless again after Sekhukhune United parted ways with him yesterday.
He was fired by SuperSport United in April leaving the South African Premiership football club that he joined in 1999 from Dynamos as a player.
He then began his coaching career in 2006 as an academy coach, an assistant coach and then the first team mentor.
Yesterday, Sekhukhune United announced that they have parted ways with the Zimbabwean coach with immediate effect.
Tembo’s fortunes in the South African Premiership appear to be waning in sharp contrast to 2019 when he touched the heavens with SuperSport United when he won the MTN 8 tournament with the Pretoria-based club, breaking a number of records with the club like winning the Tshwane Derby against Mamelodi Sundowns after six years without beating the champions.
Prior to his sacking by Sekhukhune United yesterday, the former Warriors defender was the only Zimbabwean mentor who was currently active in the South African top-flight league.
But it is no longer rosy for the gaffer who stayed for two decades at Matsatsansa and was a bastion of loyalty for the club.
However, the 52-year-old coach will have to look for another club to re-ignite his career.
According to the club statement issued out in the South African media yesterday, Sekhukhune United are still looking for another coach to replace Tembo.
“I wish to thank coach Kaitano for his dedication and hard work while at the club”, said CEO Jonas Malatji. “Ever the professional that he is, and with his impeccable work ethic, the decision to part ways was an extremely difficult one. Sport in general and football in particular is result driven, and this remains true for the club that find itself in a very precarious position in the DSTV Premiership.”
Coach Tembo, thanked the chairman and board for having given him an opportunity at the club.
“I wish to thank the players for their dedication, the support of the technical team and support staff, and wish the club and its supporters the very best,”.
The Board and Management at the club wished Tembo the very best in his future endeavours.
“The club will in the meantime begin in earnest, its search for a coach and will not make any further statements on this matter,” read the statement.
Sekhukhune United are on 15th position with 11 points from 12 games. Maritzburg on 16th place have the same number of points.
They managed to collect a point in their last three games, prompting the executive to wield the axe. They drew 1-1 against Galaxy on Sunday, before that they lost 1-0 Chippa and had also suffered a 3-1 defeat against SuperSport United.
Tembo’s progress in the South African league was also being closely followed back home with some suggesting that he was on the right path to possibly transform himself into the Warriors coach one day.
The soft-spoken coach is a hard-working coach who is humble and has managed to stay out of the limelight. He prefers his job to do the talking, and this helped him to stay afloat for a long time at SuperSport United even when he was overlooked for the head coach’s post, waiting for his time to come.