Sports / Local
Bongani Mafu latest
03 Sep 2015 at 06:42hrs | Views
Highlanders' goalkeepers' coach Peter Nkomo (left), assistant coach, Mandla Mpofu (centre) and manager Netsai Moyo during yesterday's training session at White City Stadium.
BULAWAYO giants Highlanders will officially announce the departure of head coach Bongani Mafu at a Press conference set for 12:30PM today at the club's offices.
The announcement will end weeks of speculation about Mafu's position at Bosso following numerous reports indicating that the coach's axing was imminent.
Highlanders flagged a decision on Mafu's future after a hat-trick of embarrassing losses, including to second from bottom team Whawha.
The club will also announce Mafu's replacement, with speculation rife that assistant coach Mandla Mpofu could be given the reins until the end of the season, although sources said the entire technical bench could be shown the exit door.
Mafu appeared to have acknowledged that his days at Bosso were numbered before the team's 0-1 loss to Chicken Inn as Mpofu took the players through their paces while he forlornly watched from the touch line last week ahead of Sunday's game against Chicken Inn.
When a Chronicle Sport news crew visited White City Stadium yesterday afternoon, Mpofu, goalkeepers' coach Peter Nkomo and manager Netsai Moyo were in charge of the training session while Mafu sat in the terraces.
Highlanders' secretary-general Emmett Ndlovu declined to confirm Mafu's sacking when he emerged from a two-hour emergency executive meeting yesterday.
"A decision has been reached but it will only be announced at a Press conference tomorrow afternoon at 12:30PM," said Ndlovu.
"We've a system with laid down procedures to be followed and we wouldn't want our partners to get to know of some of these decisions, whatever they're, from the media," he said.
It is believed the club wanted to officially communicate their decision to their principal sponsors BancABC before going public.
Yesterday's meeting was attended by all executive committee members except club treasurer Donald Ndebele, who is in the United States on business.
The decision to fire Mafu was reportedly unanimous.
The Uefa B Youth Football coaching badge holder has presided over one of the worst seasons for Highlanders that has seen the once mighty giants becoming punching bags for almost every team.
A band of names have been thrown around as possible candidates to take over from Mafu.
Sources said one of the club's junior teams' coaches Melusi Mabaleka Sibanda, Gift Lunga Jnr or Dumaza Dube could be promoted to the first team.
Other names of former players mentioned include former skipper Dazzy Kapenya, Amin Soma-Phiri, Tobias Mudyambanje and Johannes Tshuma.
The announcement will end weeks of speculation about Mafu's position at Bosso following numerous reports indicating that the coach's axing was imminent.
Highlanders flagged a decision on Mafu's future after a hat-trick of embarrassing losses, including to second from bottom team Whawha.
The club will also announce Mafu's replacement, with speculation rife that assistant coach Mandla Mpofu could be given the reins until the end of the season, although sources said the entire technical bench could be shown the exit door.
Mafu appeared to have acknowledged that his days at Bosso were numbered before the team's 0-1 loss to Chicken Inn as Mpofu took the players through their paces while he forlornly watched from the touch line last week ahead of Sunday's game against Chicken Inn.
When a Chronicle Sport news crew visited White City Stadium yesterday afternoon, Mpofu, goalkeepers' coach Peter Nkomo and manager Netsai Moyo were in charge of the training session while Mafu sat in the terraces.
Highlanders' secretary-general Emmett Ndlovu declined to confirm Mafu's sacking when he emerged from a two-hour emergency executive meeting yesterday.
"A decision has been reached but it will only be announced at a Press conference tomorrow afternoon at 12:30PM," said Ndlovu.
"We've a system with laid down procedures to be followed and we wouldn't want our partners to get to know of some of these decisions, whatever they're, from the media," he said.
It is believed the club wanted to officially communicate their decision to their principal sponsors BancABC before going public.
Yesterday's meeting was attended by all executive committee members except club treasurer Donald Ndebele, who is in the United States on business.
The decision to fire Mafu was reportedly unanimous.
The Uefa B Youth Football coaching badge holder has presided over one of the worst seasons for Highlanders that has seen the once mighty giants becoming punching bags for almost every team.
A band of names have been thrown around as possible candidates to take over from Mafu.
Sources said one of the club's junior teams' coaches Melusi Mabaleka Sibanda, Gift Lunga Jnr or Dumaza Dube could be promoted to the first team.
Other names of former players mentioned include former skipper Dazzy Kapenya, Amin Soma-Phiri, Tobias Mudyambanje and Johannes Tshuma.
Source - chronicle
