HIGHLANDERS’ long-time benefactor Tshinga Dube is of the opinion that the club should have consulted widely before appointing Bongani Mafu as coach, as a foreigner would have been the best for the Castle Premier Soccer League (PSL) giants.
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Dube was speaking at the club’s annual general meeting (AGM) at the clubhouse after he was invited to the top table by chairman Peter Dube, where he clarified the issue of the team bus that he was tasked to buy for Bosso after he was given $20 000 by the club.
The Bosso financial backer said he had reserved his Sunninghill four-bedroomed house in anticipation of a foreign coach only to hear that Bosso had appointed a local one.
Mafu was appointed Highlanders head coach ahead of Scottish Desmond Donaldson Bulpin who had been tipped to take over at the Bulawayo giants, but due to financial constraints, Bosso settled for a local.
“I only heard that there was a coach, who we didn’t know. It is not the right thing to do, but you have to consult first before saying that we have decided to hire this coach because we don’t have money. Who told you that there is no money?” Dube said to a cheering lot of about 300-strong Bosso members who attended the AGM.
“I had told my son that we should not use my Sunninghill four-bedroomed house expecting that a coach would be coming from overseas. I am not saying the coach (Mafu) is bad. I don’t know him, but what if he fails? If he succeeds, we will be happy. We must not continue to be Dynamos’ punching bag,” Dube said.
Bosso opted for Mafu, formerly-based in the United Kingdom and with a Uefa B badge. He will be assisted by former Bantu Rovers associate coach Mandla Mpofu and the two gaffers have been busy assembling a team for the 2015 PSL season.
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Peter Nkomo was retained as goalkeepers’ coach with former player Netsai “Super” Moyo roped in as welfare manager, taking over from another legend Willard Mashinkila Khumalo.
When coaches were appointed, chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede said the club was taking austerity measures after traditional sponsors BancABC had cut sponsorship deal by 43% from last year’s $700 000.
In his report, Highlanders board chairman Mgcini Nkolomi commended the executive committee for the technical team which he said was in line with the club’s budget.
“The board would therefore want to commend the executive (committee) for putting together an ambitious technical team within the confines of our budget and we are also informed that the technical team has been hard at work and that they have also finalised their team, although work is still in progress,” Nkolomi said.
