Kelvin Kaindu under fire

UNDERFIRE Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu was on Monday night told to do some self-introspection with his technical team during the club's routine weekly meeting following his fourth defeat to Dynamos this season.

Highlanders were embarrassed 4-1 by DeMbare in the TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

According to a source who attended the meeting, the executive did not give Kaindu any ultimatum but challenged him to speak to his lieutenants and players and figure out whether they are living up to expectations of the club's custodians who are supporters.

"It was one meeting where the technical team led by head coach (Kaindu) was not afforded a chance to talk about their wrong weekend strategies because the leaders are tired of his excuses. The executive asked the coach to go and ask his guys if they really feel proud about their performances so far. The executive believes that Highlanders have competitive bonuses and comfortable camping prior to games yet all those resources seem to be going down the drain because the team is not performing well at all. They (executive) feel they have done all they can to motivate the team and give the coach the resources that he needs yet he fails to deliver," said the source.

The club's chain of command is also troubled that Highlanders faces a possibility of being left in the cold for future invitational competitions because of their predictable defeats to perennial rivals Dynamos.

Highlanders last beat Dynamos in a league match in 2006, the year they last won the league championship then under the guidance of Methembe Ndlovu.

They have not been lucky against the Harare giants in cup competitions during the same period either, managing only one win in the 2011 Independence Cup when Mkhuphali Masuku was the coach.

"Look, yesteryear the Independence and Heroes Cup tournaments were reserved for Highlanders and Dynamos because the two drew large crowds and results were unpredictable. As years went by, as has been the case of late, the other team which happens to be Highlanders became weak and became Dynamos' punching bags thereby defying the whole purpose of having the two compete.

"Look in South Africa, Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs always battle it out in the Vodacom Challenge or Black Label Cup because the teams compete well and no one can foretell results which ignites enthusiasm from all parties. The fear that the executive has is real and they feel if the club continues being second best in all competitions, then they stand to lose some potential income from participating in cup games," the source said.

Highlanders have enjoyed generosity from some of its avid supporters who prop them up whenever they are playing well but sources at the club said people are now dragging their feet because of the team's poor performance.

Bosso now have to redeem lost pride when they face rivals How Mine in the weekend's Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final.

The chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede confirmed that the club's leadership is not pleased with how the team has been performing.

"It was a normal review meeting where in this case the defeat to Dynamos in the TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup was the focal point. Lack of discipline by players leading to the trip to Harare might have contributed to the team's defeat.

"The executive expressed its disappointment and displeasure on the team's performance. There was no ultimatum given to anyone as the club doesn't want to put pressure on the technical staff because there is the Chibuku Super Cup, possibly Mbada Diamonds Cup and the league competitions to win," said Gumede.

News filtering through is that some players abused alcohol in camp and were making noise for other guests at the hotel that both Highlanders and Dynamos were booked in.

Gumede could not be drawn into revealing the nature of indiscipline among their players in which coaches are responsible for their discipline unlike in the past when the manager had a bigger say.

Instances of players buying alcoholic beverages before camp at a supermarket in Bulawayo's Central Business District have been reported.