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Muziwethu Hadebe
AMINI Soma-Phiri was nicknamed “Mr Fix it” during his playing days as a midfielder at Highlanders Football Club. It was a nickname derived from his skills as a motor mechanic who doubled up as a part time footballer.
The argument was that Phiri could fix any car and this was translated to the playing field where despite not making a huge name as compared to his younger brother Makwinji Soma-Phiri, who himself was at Bosso before moving to Dynamos, Amini would still fix things in the midfield department when introduced in the Bosso team. Amini perhaps alongside his Technical advisor in the last few months Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu remained as the few former Bosso players who maintained their membership at the club and would always make contributions, some of the contributions believed to be controversial at the club’s annual general meetings.
In Bosso’s Thursday weekly press conference “Mr Fix It” opened up on his brief role as coach of the oldest football club in the country. “Maybe our appointment was a test for me and “mdala” Tsano since we are known as the talkative ones in terms of Bosso issues, I think we have proved our worth and this is not the first time I have saved Bosso, having done so as a player and when Kelvin Kaindu came as coach I was the team manager, so I know what Bosso needs and we have proved some of the people wrong”, said Amini.
He went further to say they had saved the executive from a possible petition against them, which was slowly brewing at the club. Those behind the petition seem to have gone into a silent mood on the subject after Amini led Bosso to a sixth position finish on the log. Never mind the “Strong” language used by Amini, he indeed raises some key points on his contribution to Highlanders. Points that are raised by a number of followers of the black and white team. Most who believe Amini should be given the job as head coach ahead of the new season.
The leadership at Bosso on the other hand is adamant that the appointment of a coach at Bosso was never an overnight thing.
They reckon this is a process they had started long back and reaching its conclusion, with Amini, Tsano and Melusi Sibanda’s role only being short term. The followers argue that if Bongani Mafu could only manage six wins in 21 league matches, Amini who managed five wins in nine league matches should be given the job. Mafu’s winning rate stood at 28% as that of Amini was at 55%. With Mafu taking charge of 21 league matches, winning six, drawing seven and losing eight, his success rate was at 61%.
On the other hand “ Mr Fix it” took charge of nine league matches, winning five, drawing one and losing three matches. His success rate was at 67%. There is however, a silent thought arguing on that the teams Mafu beat are basically the same teams that Amini Soma-Phiri went on to beat. Mafu recorded his six wins over Tsholotsho, Hwange, Dongo Sawmills, Flame Lily, Whawha and How Mine while Amini’s five wins were over Flame Lily, Dongo Sawmills, Buffaloes, Hwange and Tsholotsho. A plus for Amini was the lifting of the Easycall Cup. That he beat the top three teams FC Platinum, Dynamos and Chicken Inn on his way to lifting the cup has seen many join the chorus for Soma Phiri to be given the job. Mafu though did well to lift the ZNA Charity Shield by beating Dynamos, he was booted out of the Chibuku Cup in the first round by How Mine.
On the other hand, the bigger picture is the crowds and the singing that the fine run by Amini has brought back to Emagumeni. Amini Soma-Phiri has certainly fixed something at Bosso. For an executive that has always been labelled as responding to the fans’ reaction given the way Kaindu’s contract was renewed when some in the executive are understood not to have wanted to, the eventual dismissal of Kaindu as well as the firing of Mafu, this is a big test for the Bosso leadership. Amini or a new coach?
Online Reporter