adminHIGHLANDERS FC interim coach Amini Soma-Phiri is heading to South Africa for a stint at First National Division side, Moroka Swallows.
Soma-Phiri told journalists on Thursday the stint will give him an opportunity to learn more about coaching as he will be attached at the club for about two weeks.
Soma-Phiri, who had similar attachments at Mamelodi Sundowns, Ajax Cape Town, Supersport United and Mpumalanga Black Aces, is going to South Africa at the invitation of Swallows’ head coach Ian Gorowa.
He said the previous attachments have been beneficial for him and was certain he will learn more during the short stint.
“When I attend these attachments I will be closely involved with the technical departments, I will be allowed to sit with them on the technical benches during games and whenever meetings are held, I would be part of them which gives me intimate knowledge of how things work,’’ said Phiri.
“I also would be having access to numerous videos and books that are crucial in coaching. I believe I will gain more knowledge this time around although I am not certain of the number of days I will spend there.’’
Phiri, who holds a Caf B coaching licence, said the stints in South Africa have helped widen his football knowledge and credits them for some of the success he achieved during the short period he was at the helm of Bosso’s technical department.
Meanwhie, Phiri says Bosso’s EasyCall Cup final win was a perfect birthday present.
Phiri turned 54 three days before the final and winning the Premier Soccer League’s top eight tournament brought added joy to him.
Addressing journalists at the Highlander’s weekly Press conferences on Thursday, Phiri said while he had not told the players it was his birthday; they had managed to deliver the present.
“The boys don’t know it was my birthday, I’m sure they will be surprised to hear it from you but I want to thank them for their efforts they made celebrating my birthday worth it,” he said.
Phiri said he had a feeling he was going to win the cup but some Bosso officials did not believe him when he told them the trophy was headed for the Highlanders cabinet. He said the competition was not easy as they had to beat the three best teams in the league.
Phiri singled out the FC Platinum game as being the toughest saying he had the belief they will win the cup when they went to Mandava and once they managed to grind a win, he was confident the trophy was theirs to lose.
“After the Platinum game we brought joy to the multitudes of Highlanders supporters when we managed to defeat Dynamos after a very long time in a critical match and we managed to beat them clean with no questions being asked about our win.
“The final was not easy again because we were facing a tricky team, Chicken Inn, who also happen to be the league champions. They are well known for their endurance but I am glad the boys held on and we walked away victors,” he said.
Phiri said he has managed to show his abilities as a coach by lifting the EasyCall Cup and there should be no questions about whether he could manage to coach Bosso or any other team on a substantive basis.
Online Reporter