Sports / Soccer
Philip Mbofana's career takes a big nosedive
25 Jan 2012 at 07:48hrs | Views
SOCCER â€" IN a classical case of how the mighty have fallen, former Mbabane Highlanders' Zimbabwean coach Philip Mbofana's career has taken a big nosedive as he is now running a second hand tyre company in his home country.
The former Highlanders' coach who has also drilled other teams in the country such as XI Men In Flight, Hellenic and Bush Bucks as well as South Africa's National First Division League side Dynamos, has struggled to find a team to coach hence his decision to return home.
This is according to one of Zimbabwe's leading publications, The Standard's well documented report of the coach's sad demise from glory. The publication spells it out that if Mbofana's arrival in the Zimbabwean domestic soccer scene in 1998 was with a bang, then his exit from club football more than a decade later, was even noisier, albeit, for all the wrong reasons.
Narrating Mbofana's background, the publication states that fourteen years ago, Mbofana who is back in Zimbabwe to run a second-hand tyre company, became the darling of many when as a 28-year-old, he took charge of a Premier Soccer League side, the now defunct Mhangura FC replacing Zambian Webster Chikabala.
"Many supporters questioned the wisdom of appointing a 'toddler' but he became a hit in the small mining town when he led Mhangura FC to the BP Cup final, in which they controversially lost to CAPS United in his debut season," reads part of the report.
That particular feat opened an avenue for the coach as he coached the Zimbabwe Under 20s and Under 23s and Douglas Warriors before embarking on a journey across the borders that saw him move to the country between 2007 and 2010. Mbofana's downfall was his arrest on rape allegations which even cost him his job as it forced Dynamos to relieve him of his duties.
"That was a very painful period in my life. Up to now what happened is still a mystery. Whether people conspired against me or not, I do not and might never know," Mbofana is quoted as saying.
The former Highlanders' coach who has also drilled other teams in the country such as XI Men In Flight, Hellenic and Bush Bucks as well as South Africa's National First Division League side Dynamos, has struggled to find a team to coach hence his decision to return home.
This is according to one of Zimbabwe's leading publications, The Standard's well documented report of the coach's sad demise from glory. The publication spells it out that if Mbofana's arrival in the Zimbabwean domestic soccer scene in 1998 was with a bang, then his exit from club football more than a decade later, was even noisier, albeit, for all the wrong reasons.
"Many supporters questioned the wisdom of appointing a 'toddler' but he became a hit in the small mining town when he led Mhangura FC to the BP Cup final, in which they controversially lost to CAPS United in his debut season," reads part of the report.
That particular feat opened an avenue for the coach as he coached the Zimbabwe Under 20s and Under 23s and Douglas Warriors before embarking on a journey across the borders that saw him move to the country between 2007 and 2010. Mbofana's downfall was his arrest on rape allegations which even cost him his job as it forced Dynamos to relieve him of his duties.
"That was a very painful period in my life. Up to now what happened is still a mystery. Whether people conspired against me or not, I do not and might never know," Mbofana is quoted as saying.
Source - Swazi Observer
