ONE of the country’s most decorated coaches, Rahman Gumbo, could be feeling the heat in the Zifa Southern Region Division One race following his side, Bulawayo Chiefs’ 4-0 drubbing by police side, Black Boots in Fairbridge on Saturday.
FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
The former Warriors gaffer has twice won the local top league with Highlanders, won the championship in Malawi with MTL Wanderers and with Botswana’s Township Rollers, having also been at the helm with Sporting Lions, Caps United and Motor Action in the local league.
However, Gumbo is finding the going tough in the Division One League and has lost five times after taking over from Thulani Sibanda, who was relieved of his duties at Chiefs after having gone on a seven-match winning streak.
Sibanda left the side to join Bantu Rovers after Bulawayo Chiefs’ first loss to Black Boots in a 0-2 defeat at Luveve Stadium in May and a goalless draw to Ntabazinduna Prison.
Speculation has been rife that Chiefs were mulling recalling Sibanda who has however stated that he is happy at his new side Tshintsha Guluva.
Sibanda arrived in Bulawayo yesterday from victoria Falls where he was attending a high profile Caf C Licence coaching course.
Gumbo’s Bulawayo Chiefs were mauled by Black Boots, coached by a virtually unknown Kudzai Mutuda, throwing the race for the Premier Soccer League ticket between the two clubs alive as the police side closed the gap on Chiefs to two points following their win on Saturday.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Chiefs remain on 53 points while Black Boots has landed on 51 points with five matches remaining to wrap up the season.
But the former Warriors coach put up a brave face after the loss to Black Boots on Saturday.
“All is not lost. They wanted a win more than us, but we are still at the top with two points. To me that’s a lot,” Gumbo said.
Gumbo first lost 0-1 away to Tsholotsho FC coached by Lizwe Sweswe, then he was stunned by Seymour Dube’s Quelaton 0-2 at home in Plumtree.
He then lost 0-1 to former Shabanie Mine gaffer Solomon Kaseke, in charge of ZPC Hwange, lost 0-1 to Dalu Bhebhe coaching Bulawayo Jumbos before the 4-0 pummeling by Black Boots on Saturday.
Save for Black Boots, all the teams that Bulawayo Chiefs lost to are not in the race for the championship.
He is yet to meet Sibanda’s Bantu Rovers who still have a flicker of hope of winning the title after beating ZPC Hwange 2-1 at Luveve on Saturday to land on 45 points.
New West City were held to a 1-1 draw by Jumbos at Brady Barracks while Zimbabwe Saints fell to Tsholotsho at Luveve.
Technosphere beat troubled Rufaro Rovers 2-1 in Hwange as Quelaton added on to Ajax Hotspurs’ miseries with 2-1 win at White City Stadium while Ntabazinduna Prison beat Hwange Juniors 2-1 in the coal mining town.
