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HIGHLANDERS have bowed to demands by head coach Erol Akbay to remove assistant coach Amini Soma-Phiri from his position.
A ZBC report last night said Soma-Phiri had been relieved of his duties as the second in charge in the technical set-up.
The Dutchman has been claiming that Soma-Phiri has been sabotaging his work and is behind the team’s recent poor performances. Akbay wants Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu, who was reassigned to the junior sides, back into the first team technical set-up.
Bosso have badly lost their way in recent weeks and crashed to a 0-3 defeat at the hands of Ngezi Platinum in their last match. After that defeat, Akbay wrote a letter to the club leadership claiming Soma-Phiri was allegedly sabotaging his work.
“The coach pulled a shocker by writing a letter, which he handed in at the club’s offices ahead of a scheduled review meeting,’’ sources told our Bulawayo Bureau.
“He alleged that Soma-Phiri has been sabotaging him and wants Tsano back. Because of the coach’s surprise letter, the executive has been forced to look into the allegations and quickly come up with a decision.’’
Yesterday, it emerged the Bosso leadership agreed with their head coach and relieved Soma-Phiri of his duties. Calls for Akbay to quit have been growing following the loss at Ngezi.
Sources said some Highlanders officials were ready to support Akbay’s suspension. “Some wanted the coach to step aside, but he acted quickly by submitting his letter before the weekly meeting, putting into jeopardy plans to suspend him.
“There are also fears that external forces are influencing some executive members’ decisions and that is the reason the meeting had to take many breaks during the day, as they went to consult their advisors.
“The club will announce its decision tomorrow (today),” sources said. — Sports Reporter/Bulawayo Bureau.
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