Moses Chunga's marriage with Buffaloes on the rocks

MOSES Chunga's marriage with Premiership side Buffaloes is on the rocks and it looks like the former Zimbabwe captain will not continue as head coach this season as he reportedly dumped the soldiers yesterday.

The veteran coach has been at loggerheads with the club's leadership in recent weeks over lack of material support for preparations for the new season.

Buffaloes are facing severe financial challenges since they are no longer getting a budget for football from the Zimbabwe National Army and the side has lost a number of players during the off-season break.

Their woes deepened yesterday when Chunga failed to report for training yesterday amid speculation that he had returned to Harare. Chunga was not reachable despite repeated efforts to get him to comment yesterday. However, the club's organising secretary Arnold Gatsi confirmed the coach did not pitch up for training in Mutare although he professed ignorance over his resignation.

"I am not sure if he has left the club because there is nothing official. I only heard that he did not come for training this afternoon and we have been trying to call him. His phone, however, is not reachable and now I hear that he is in Harare. Maybe tomorrow we should have enough information," said Gatsi.

Chunga joined Buffaloes at the end of August last year on a three-month deal.

His mandate was to help the team survive relegation following the sudden resignation of Luke Masomere who had left to join Bulawayo side How Mine.

The army side survived relegation on the last day of the season with a 2-1 win over Hwange at Sakubva and finished on the 10th position on the log standings.

Chunga's contract expired on December 31 and he reportedly agreed to an extension with the club's leadership.

His relationship with his superiors, however, has not been rosy in the pre-season as he complained that he was not getting enough material support while a number of key players were not offered new contracts.

The much-travelled coach was working with newly appointed assistant Joseph Takaringofa and goalkeeper's coach Peter Masibera. Buffaloes will face Dynamos in the first match away at Rufaro on March 22.