Top PSL coach quits

Sport
CHICKEN Inn coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu has quit the club following a string of poor results.

CHICKEN Inn coach Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu has quit the club following a string of poor results.

Sukoluhle Mthethwa Sports Reporter

His departure was always coming as he was reported to have been handed a two-match ultimatum by the club’s executive after Chicken Inn were booted out of the Mbada Diamonds Cup.

The Bulawayo side lost 1-2 to Caps United in a quarter-final tie at Ascot Stadium in Gweru last week.

Chicken Inn went on to lose by the same scoreline to the same opponents in a league match last Wednesday before losing by the same scoreline to Hwange at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo on Saturday.

Chicken Inn chairman Lifa Ncube confirmed yesterday that Mpofu had parted ways with the club.

“He tendered his resignation in on Sunday evening. He has found it tough, but we were hoping that he would turn around the results. We are happy with his achievement because he led us to our first trophy in the PSL (Premier Soccer League). We are proud of this achievement, but we were hoping that he would help us finish in a better position in the league,” he said.

The statement on Chicken Inn’s official website yesterday read: “Lulu cuts ties with Chicken Inn”.

“Our head coach Mandla Lulu Mpofu has officially resigned. Mkhuphali Masuku will be the acting head coach till further notice . . . ” the statement read.

Contacted for comment, Mpofu refused to give his side of the story.

Chicken Inn lifted the NetOne Charity Shield after they beat Caps United 3-2 in the final played in Zvishavane in March.

The GameCox were also expected to do well in the Mbada Diamonds Cup, but were bundled out by Caps United. They were targeting the cup game as their ticket to represent the country in the Confederations Cup.

Mpofu was a visibly dejected man following the loss to Hwange on Saturday.

“It is football. These are bad days. I am very disappointed. We have lost three matches in a row and today was just disappointing. We defended poorly and goalkeeping was bad and as much as we wanted a solution this was really bad. It is becoming difficult for us to maintain our goals for the season and finishing in the top four would depend on how the other teams play and only if a miracle happens.

“We did not get to the ball first and Hwange could have scored two or three goals in the first half. We were not playing as a team,” he said then.

Mpofu joined Chicken Inn last year as assistant to the late former Warriors and Highlanders striker Adam Ndlovu.

The former Railstars coach, guided Chicken Inn to a third-place finish last season with the late Ndlovu.

At the time of his departure he was being assisted by Mkhuphali Masuku.

Meanwhile, Chicken Inn midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi has attracted the interest of South African Absa PSL side Mamelodi Sundowns, his manager Mlungisi Moyo confirmed yesterday.

“Sundowns want to have a look at Mahachi. I am yet to confirm the dates when he is going. I am trying to get hold of Bantu Rovers secretary Wilbert Sibanda,” he said.

Mahachi is on loan from Bantu Rovers.