Mafu’s days numbered

Sport
HIGHLANDER’S chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede yesterday hinted that the fading Bulawayo giants are on the verge of parting ways with head coach, Bongani Mafu.

HIGHLANDER’S chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede yesterday hinted that the fading Bulawayo giants are on the verge of parting ways with head coach, Bongani Mafu.

by Sports Reporter

Speaking at a Premier Soccer League two-day workshop held at Meikles Hotel in the capital, Gumede did not mince his words and told NewsDay Sport that Mafu’s days at the club were numbered.

“Obviously there is nothing that is going to happen today, tomorrow or the day after tomorrow because I am here in Harare as the CEO, the chairman Peter Dube is also here and the treasurer is in the United States. But I can tell you that the ultimatum that we gave him was no fluke. Everyone in the family does not want to see him because of the poor run. So, as the executive, we are left with no option, but to part ways,” he said.

Mafu’s Highlanders are on 10th position on the log table with 25 points from 21 matches, with just six wins, seven draws, and eight losses.

Bosso have managed to score 25 goals so far and conceded 22 in the process.

The Bosso family began running out of patience with the coach when the team lost 1-2 at home to FC Platinum, before going down 1-0 to WhaWha in Gweru.

Last week the club leadership then decided to give Mafu a one match ultimatum, demanding a win against high flying Chicken Inn or face the boot. bongani-mafu

Mafu’s charges went on to lose 2-3 to their city rivals on Sunday, leaving the club executive with little option, but to show him the door.

Gumede was speaking at a PSL workshop organised for the 16 clubs in an effort to cement their relationship with SuperSport.

SuperSport CEO, Stanley Mathews, PSL chairman, Twine Phiri and PSL CEO Kenny Ndebele attended the workshop.

Mathews lamented the lack of continuity in clubs in terms of staff turnover.

“This will help us to grow the brand. If staff members in clubs are changed at will, then this will not help us in any way. So there is need for clubs to keep their staff to grow the brand,” he said.

Mathews applauded Chicken Inn and FC Platinum, the two clubs he said were doing well in terms of staff turnover.

PSL boss, Phiri also took the opportunity to reveal that PSL and Zifa had reached an agreement on the number of clubs to be relegated at the end of the year.

“We agreed that this is the last year that we will have four clubs in and four clubs out. They really wanted us to come down to two this year, but we argued that such a decision cannot be taken midway through the season. So what it means is that the new rules regarding promotion and demotion will come into effect next season, he said.