The Sunday Mail (Zimbabwe)

Ngezi hunts for winning coach

- Don Makanyanga in Mhondoro

Ngezi Platinum Stars …………0 Black Rhinos …………………..0

A SEASON that promised so much ended on a whimper for Ngezi Platinum Stars yesterday.

A defeat to Black Rhinos at the Baobab summed up the home side’s 2018 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League campaign.

Substitute Allan Gahadzikwa scored a stoppage time winner for the visitors.

Ngezi are without a head coach having parted ways with Tonderai Ndiraya and the hunt for a new gaffer is already in full throttle.

The platinum miners have already drawn up a shortlist and could announce the man who will lead them in 2019 in a fortnight when they host their end of season awards. projects. Cases of shoddy jobs like was the case with the so called rehabilita­tion of Rufaro Stadium and the Region V games venues in Bulawayo must never be repeated or tolerated.

“Winning in sport starts with being able to identify talent at an early age but you cannot identify talent when you don’t have the facilities for the youngsters to show what they have.

“Dozens if not thousands of swimmers were born in Chitungwiz­a between the time the Aquatic complex was built for the All Africa Games and this day but they were lost along the way because the facility turned into a white elephant.”

The 35-year-old Sadomba, who was the

The Sunday Mail Sport exclusivel­y reveals that the shortlist features Harare City coach Mark Harrison, Highlander­s mentor Madinda Ndlovu, Warriors assistant coach Rahman Gumbo and the championsh­ip winning pair of Joey Antipas (Chicken Inn) and Lloyd Chitembwe (Caps United).

Former Warriors coach Ian Gorowa, who was present at the Baobab yesterday, is also part of the shortlist.

“What we are looking for is a proven winner, not just someone who will promise a lot and deliver very little,” said a senior club official.

“After missing out on the championsh­ip like we did this year, we believe that getting someone with a proven record of winning trophies on board will help us in attaining our 2011 Caf Champions League top goal scorer, said President Mnangagwa made a “prophetic decision” by creating a Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.

“As someone whose life was changed by sport, I know how budding sports stars need counsellin­g in addition to good coaching. Having a ministry that caters for both the youths and sport was prophetic because that is exactly what we need at the moment.

“While teaching the youngsters about sport was enough back in the day, these days that will not suffice. There is rampant drug abuse even at the profession­al level and we need a combinatio­n of youth and sport officers to help nurture upcoming talent,” he said. target, which is the championsh­ip.

“The shortlist is there and will soon be presented to the board who will oversee interviews and make their decision.”

Club chairman Jerimiah Gasiteni chose to play his cards close to the chest but confirmed that a substantiv­e coach will be announced soon.

“We had a run of 14 games unbeaten, an improved season from the last one. However, we failed to dispatch small teams as we should have done and that was our major downfall this season.

“We missed our target, we aim to do better next season and we will announce the head coach soon,” said Gasiteni.

Meanwhile, interim Ngezi coach Clifton Kadurira watched in frustratio­n yesterday as his team Team P WD L F A GD PTS FC Platinum 34 24 5 6 52 14 38 78 Ngezi Platinum 34 20 5 9 50 24 26 65 Chicken Inn 34 15 12 7 42 26 16 57 Triangle United 34 17 5 12 43 33 10 56 Highlander­s 34 14 9 11 34 30 4 51 Herentals 34 13 12 9 28 24 4 51 Caps United 34 12 12 10 34 30 4 48 Harare City 34 10 18 6 28 26 2 48 Black Rhinos 34 12 13 9 38 30 8 49 *ZPC Kariba 34 12 12 10 29 28 1 45 Dynamos 34 10 12 12 28 37 -9 42 Yadah FC Stars 34 9 14 11 33 40 -7 40 Bulawayo Chiefs 34 10 11 13 31 36 -4 41 Chapungu 34 9 12 13 27 34 -7 39 Nichrut 34 9 9 16 33 40 -7 36 Bulawayo City 34 9 5 20 33 43 -10 32 Mutare City 34 5 8 21 24 55 -31 23 Shabanie Mine 34 2 13 19 24 61 -37 19 *3 points deducted for using an ineligible player Relegated suffered an embarrassi­ng home defeat.

Ngezi gifted Rhinos the winner when goalkeeper Nelson Chadya failed to clear a Godknows Murwira back pass and gifted Gahadzikwa an early Christmas present.

Kadurira is not in the running for the job and says he will stand guided by what the club’s bosses will decide.

Teams

Caps United 0-0 Chapungu Chicken Inn 1-1 Triangle Mutare City 0-2 Bulawayo City Ngezi 0-1 Black Rhinos Nichrut 3-0 Dynamos Shabanie 0-4 Herentals Yahadh 1-1 Harare City ZPC 1-2 Bulawayo Chiefs

Ngezi Platinum Stars: N Chadya, P Moyo, K Bulaji, G Murwira, F Makarati, W Mukanga, M Charamba, M Mushonga (X Moyo 78) , D Teguru ( T Mabvura 60) , K Murera, S Nhivi,

Black Rhinos: H Rusawo, E Chigiji, F Banda, B Homora, P Mukombwe (M Kurerwa 54), T Sibanda, W Kapinda, T Jaravani, H Chimutimun­zeve (A Gahadzikwa 87), W Taderera, D Mudadi

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Zimbabwe