JUST days after winning the Mbada Diamonds Cup — the richest cup tournament in the land — it’s back to the scratching of heads for the Highlanders leadership as coach Kelvin Kaindu’s contract will run out at the end of this month.
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Bosso bagged the Mbada Diamonds Cup with a stunning display on Saturday to crush giant killers How Mine 3-0 at Barbourfields Stadium and get a $130 000 cheque, but as soon as the celebrations had died down, it was back to work for the Peter Dube-led executive.
Kaindu, his assistants Bekithemba “Super” Ndlovu and goalkeepers’ coach Tembo Chuma and manager Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo’s contracts expire at the end of the year and overtures have been made to the Zambian national.
Fellow Premier Soccer League (PSL) side FC Platinum are watching the developments at 54 Robert Mugabe Way with keen interest and are ready to pounce if no new deal is reached. The Zvishavane-based side has been interested in the coach since July.
Kaindu penned a two-year contract with Highlanders under the executive committee of former chairman Themba Ndlela and has had two superb seasons with the Bulawayo giants, albeit failing to win the league and playing second fiddle to Dynamos on goal difference in two successive years.
His greatest achievement has been lifting the $130 000 Mbada Diamonds Cup.
Highlanders chairman Peter Dube yesterday said Kaindu had done a marvellous job, but said the decision on his employment lay not only with the executive, but with all Bosso stakeholders.
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Dube said they have not met to decide on the mentor’s fate with the Bulawayo giants.
“That decision is not made by the chairman. We have not met. We will meet today, tomorrow and in the days to come and that decision would not be the chairman’s, the executive’s, because this club is a big organisation.
“There is the board and there are also club members. Their (the coaches) contracts are expiring and just like me when my term of office comes to an end, some people may still want me to be in. Some may want me to go. But all I can say is that good work has been done and I am sure we will have good discussions,” Dube said.
Yesterday evening the executive was due to meet with the technical staff at the club offices for their usual review of weekend games, and this case the Saturday final.
On Saturday after the match against How Mine, Kaindu told reporters that the best people to comment on his stay with Highlanders were his employers.
“Why don’t you ask my employers on whether I will be around or not? I am standing right now as the Highlanders coach and it is not for me, but the employer to say if I would be allowed to continue or not,” Kaindu said.
Kaindu has previously stated that big things are coming to Highlanders way in the future, an indication that the Zambian gaffer intended to stay.
Last season, Highlanders finished on second spot on par with DeMbare on 69 points, because of goal difference. This year it was the same scenario with both clubs tied on 54 points.
The Zambian mentor has, however, managed to lift a major trophy for Highlanders by winning the Mbada Diamonds Cup after their last major win — the league championship in 2006 under the guidance of Methembe “Mayor” Ndlovu.
