Sports / Local
Bongani Mafu survives
25 Aug 2015 at 08:55hrs | Views
HIGHLANDERS coach Bongani Mafu last night survived to fight another day in charge of Bosso after the executive merely asked him to "pull up his socks" in his next game.
Bosso's next game is against log leaders Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking after a four-hour meeting that started at 2PM and ended shortly after 6PM, Highlanders' chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede said the gathering was a normal review meeting before referring further questions to club secretary-general Emmet Ndlovu.
"The meeting was just a review meeting where we looked at the Thursday and yesterday's match. We made it clear though to the coaches that the last two results weren't pleasing and there was need to pull up socks in the next match," said Ndlovu, before driving away evading further questions.
Bosso lie eighth on the table with 25 points from 20 games - a massive 15 points behind leaders Chicken Inn, after picking up 11 points out of a possible 30 off 10 matches.
On Sunday, the Bulawayo giants handed relegation candidates Whawha their fourth set of three points after losing 0-1 in a match that the league's leading goal scorer Knox Mutizwa missed a spot kick early in the second half.
Highlanders are now seven points off the drop zone.
Mafu had to be escorted from the dressing room by anti-riot police as Bosso fans threatened to manhandle him for losing two games in four days.
The Bosso fans have not been happy that the team has lacked consistency since Mafu took charge and that performances in the second half of the season continue to deteriorate with no remedy in sight.
Despite the inconsistent performances and Highlanders' low position on the log, Mafu has seemingly been treated with kid gloves compared to his predecessors.
Kelvin Kaindu was fired in 2014 when Highlanders were on 39 points, seven behind then log leaders Dynamos. Methembe Ndlovu was also relieved of his duties when the team was second on the log table.
A source said the Highlanders executive found itself between a rock and a hard place as Mafu is the "board's project".
"At one time chairman Peter Dube wanted to fire the man but he was quickly reminded that his chairmanship was literally saved by the board when they disqualified Ernest 'Maphepha' Sibanda in February, so it was time for him to play ball," said a source close to Highlanders' inside politics.
In other matches played over the weekend, Chicken Inn were shocked 0-1 by a resurgent Hwange at Luveve Stadium, but still remained four points clear of Triangle, who held How Mine to a 0-0 draw at Barbourfields Stadium.
Champions Dynamos were lucky to escape with a draw against Tsholotsho at Emagumeni as the Lizwe Sweswe coached Iziqholo zeZhwane dominated their more illustrious opponents.
DeMbare scored early in the first half, but Tsholotsho equalised at the death, courtesy of a spectacular own goal by midfielder Stephen Alimenda. The draw, however, did little to ease Tsholotsho's relegation worries as they slipped from 12th to 13th position on the league table with 18 points.
Bosso's next game is against log leaders Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking after a four-hour meeting that started at 2PM and ended shortly after 6PM, Highlanders' chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede said the gathering was a normal review meeting before referring further questions to club secretary-general Emmet Ndlovu.
"The meeting was just a review meeting where we looked at the Thursday and yesterday's match. We made it clear though to the coaches that the last two results weren't pleasing and there was need to pull up socks in the next match," said Ndlovu, before driving away evading further questions.
Bosso lie eighth on the table with 25 points from 20 games - a massive 15 points behind leaders Chicken Inn, after picking up 11 points out of a possible 30 off 10 matches.
On Sunday, the Bulawayo giants handed relegation candidates Whawha their fourth set of three points after losing 0-1 in a match that the league's leading goal scorer Knox Mutizwa missed a spot kick early in the second half.
Highlanders are now seven points off the drop zone.
Mafu had to be escorted from the dressing room by anti-riot police as Bosso fans threatened to manhandle him for losing two games in four days.
Despite the inconsistent performances and Highlanders' low position on the log, Mafu has seemingly been treated with kid gloves compared to his predecessors.
Kelvin Kaindu was fired in 2014 when Highlanders were on 39 points, seven behind then log leaders Dynamos. Methembe Ndlovu was also relieved of his duties when the team was second on the log table.
A source said the Highlanders executive found itself between a rock and a hard place as Mafu is the "board's project".
"At one time chairman Peter Dube wanted to fire the man but he was quickly reminded that his chairmanship was literally saved by the board when they disqualified Ernest 'Maphepha' Sibanda in February, so it was time for him to play ball," said a source close to Highlanders' inside politics.
In other matches played over the weekend, Chicken Inn were shocked 0-1 by a resurgent Hwange at Luveve Stadium, but still remained four points clear of Triangle, who held How Mine to a 0-0 draw at Barbourfields Stadium.
Champions Dynamos were lucky to escape with a draw against Tsholotsho at Emagumeni as the Lizwe Sweswe coached Iziqholo zeZhwane dominated their more illustrious opponents.
DeMbare scored early in the first half, but Tsholotsho equalised at the death, courtesy of a spectacular own goal by midfielder Stephen Alimenda. The draw, however, did little to ease Tsholotsho's relegation worries as they slipped from 12th to 13th position on the league table with 18 points.
Source - chronicle
