Kaindu quits Bosso

KELVIN Kaindu has left Highlanders by mutual consent, ending a three-year reign that failed to yield the league title that Bosso desperately needs.

The decision was arrived at on Monday afternoon.

Following defeats to Harare City and ZPC Kariba which put a dent on Highlanders' championship hopes, the Zambian reached a consensus with the club's leadership to leave amicably.

Reports that he bade farewell to the players on Sunday and gave a subordinate his weekly technical report that was to be tabled at the club's weekly review meeting on Monday appeared to be correct though Kaindu later told the media after the ZPC Kariba loss that he was not quitting.

It was Sunday's 1-3 defeat to ZPC Kariba that marked the end of his largely indifferent term at Highlanders.

Bosso have in the last two seasons finished runners-up to their bitterest rivals Dynamos. It appears being beaten to the league title once more is unacceptable to the Bosso faithful.

Last week ahead of the ZPC Kariba, the hierarchy at the Bulawayo giants had said only winning the championship was going to save Kaindu.

Faced with the reality that the 2014 league championship is now beyond their reach as they trail defending champions Dynamos by seven points with six matches to go and sitting fourth on the table, it looked imperative that he and his employers find common ground.

Highly placed sources who attended Monday's review meeting confirmed Kaindu's exit as did those close to him. "Kaindu resigned on Monday during the meeting that they had. It was a formal meeting where he properly announced his resignation on his own. Actually he even said he enjoyed his stay at the club. What was then agreed was that he and the club were going to issue a joint statement today," said the source yesterday.

Kaindu had not even attended the review meeting. He had to be telephoned to present himself before the executive. At first he appeared to argue that his boys had matched supercharged ZPC Kariba but later agreed to quit in amicable fashion.


His former assistant, Mark Mathe led the squad's weekend review with goalkeepers' coach Peter Nkomo, welfare manager Willard Khumalo, physical trainer Majaha Ndlovu and kit manager Vezigama Dlodlo following proceedings.

There was growing despondence among Highlanders fans and officials over the club's poor run of form lately. After the loss to ZPC Kariba angry Bosso fans vented their fury by throwing missiles at him and his players. Highlanders and ZPC Kariba players had to huddle in the centre circle before police used teargas to disperse the fans and pave way for teams to make their way into the dressing rooms.

Having faced litigation before for unilaterally terminating contracts of their former coaches like Madinda Ndlovu, Mohamed Fathi and Philani Mabhena, Bosso took Kaindu's contract to legal and labour experts seeking guidance to avoid similar expensive coaches.

It appears the coach's departure will no longer be at a heavy cost to Bosso as the parting was amicable.

"The club did its homework and the coach will be paid what's due to him. There won't be any litigation as the former coach and club player believes he has benefited from his stint at Highlanders and has enhanced his CV in a manner that may enhance his future in the game," the source said.

Kaindu was conspicuous by his absence at the team's training session held at St Columba's yesterday, with news filtering that he was finishing up paperwork with the club.

The Zambian spent the better part of yesterday morning at the club offices, probably working on the joint statement that he and the club were supposed to issue later in the day. They had not released it by late last night.

Highlanders' chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede professed ignorance over Kaindu's fate.

"I'm surprised he was not there at training and I'm hearing it from you. As far as I know he is still here," said Gumede, who was in the afternoon holed up at the club's offices with the coach and spoke to a foreign radio station.

"He passed through the office and told me that there were some bills that he needed to settle so he was going to withdraw some cash to do his transactions. As for the resignation letter, I'm the club's conduit and didn't receive anything."

Kaindu leaves Highlanders sitting on position four with 39 points after 24 matches. Bosso are in the Chibuku Super Cup semi-finals and desperately eager to reach the semifinals of the Mbada Diamonds Cup in which the top four will contest.