AS a complete overhaul looms at Highlanders, it has emerged that all coaches were last week handed letters asking them to reapply amid speculation that Bosso had appointed former Zimbabwe Saints coach Bongani Mafu.
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Highlanders chairman Peter Dube confirmed that members of the technical team had been notified of the expiry of their contracts. He pointed out that the panellists conducting interviews for the head coach had not made an appointment, but were left with three candidates to choose from after going through the rigorous process.
“I just spoke to one of the panellists and what they have told me is that they have narrowed the number to three, but they have not made appointments,” Dube said.
“We should complete the process soon. We got more and more applications after we advertised and we had to accommodate all of them.”
On the incumbent coaches, Dube said they were still in charge until December 31 when their contracts expire. He said they would not be bringing any coach from outside for interviews, but with modern technology, the coaches outside the country could be assessed.
An impeccable source told Southern Eye Sport that all members of the technical staff were handed letters last Thursday.
Those affected include caretaker coach Mark Mathe, welfare manager Willard Mashinkila Khumalo and goalkeepers’ coach Peter “Oxo” Nkomo in the senior team.
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The source said veteran coach Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu, who was roped in to assist the coaches as technical advisor after the departure of Zambian mentor Kelvin Kaindu in October, was also served with the letter.
Zulu was roped in to assist up to the end of the season.
The junior coaches are Shepherd Mabaleka (Under-19 in the Zifa Bulawayo province Division Two League), Gift Lunga (Jr) (Under-18), Dumaza Dube (Under-16) and Danny Ngwenya (Under-14).
“They were all handed letters on Thursday last week stating that they were being reminded that their contracts will expire on December 31 and if they still needed their jobs, they should reapply,” the source said.
The source added that the only member of staff who survived the chop was kit manager Vezigama Dlodlo. When Bosso advertised for the post of technical manager last Sunday, they indicated that the incumbent should “. . . be able to direct football development structures”, an indication the incoming Highlanders head coach would be given the leeway to choose his assistants and junior coaches.
Coaches who have been tipped to take over at Bosso are former South African side AmaZulu coach Craig Roslee, Brazilian Edson Silva Dido and Scot Desmond Donaldson Bulpin.
But with principal sponsor BancABC reportedly having cut its sponsorship to Bosso, they might settle for a local coach with Mandla Mpofu, Philani Ncube, Elvis Chiweshe and Lloyd Mutasa in the picture.
