HIGHLANDERS Football club has reportedly sacked head coach Bongani Mafu in the wake of Sunday’s 3-2 league defeat to city rivals Chicken Inn at Barbourfields Stadium.
BY THANDIWE MOYO
No official comment could be obtained from the club last night, but a close source said Mafu’s fate was decided during the team’s executive meeting held yesterday evening.
Names that are being linked to the post include Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu who might bounce back having previously worked with ex-coach Mark Mathe.
The source, however, said Mafu’s assistant Mandla Mpofu was likely to take charge until the end of the season.
Club chairman Peter Dube confirmed the meeting, whose agenda was to review the team’s recent performances.
He did not give more details of the meeting, only saying they had made a decision on the coach, which will be announced at a Press conference this morning.
“The meeting was very short. It did not take us long to come up with a decision.
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We will announce what we discussed at a Press Conference tomorrow (today),” said Dube.
Mafu, who was in charge of the team’s training session yesterday night said he was yet to receive any dismissal letter.
“As I speak I am coming from the training session at White City and tomorrow (today) we will be at Barbourfields with the boys. We have not been getting good results of late and there is a possibility that changes might happen. So far we haven’t received any dismissal letters,” Mafu said.
Chicken Inn’s defeat was Highlanders’ third in a row, leaving the former league champions in 10th position and certainly out of the league race.
Mafu came into the Chicken Inn match under increased pressure following successive defeats to FC Platinum and Whawha, leaving the Bosso fans restless.
Mafu had garnered just four points from a possible 15, with the defeat to Chicken Inn proving the last straw.
Earlier reports had suggested the Bosso executive wanted to wield the axe after the WhaWha loss, but the club’s leadership decided to give him another chance against Chicken Inn.
But, after Mafu failed the Chicken Inn test, his reign as Highlanders coach technically expired.
Mafu’s days as Highlanders coach were prolonged for a few more days as Bosso leadership including chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede and chairman Peter Dube were in Harare attending a workshop, thereby deferring their customary Monday review meeting to yesterday.
