Bosso on coach delays

Raymond Jaravaza
HIGHLANDERS Football Club-bound Dutch coach Erol Akbay is eager for his work permit to be approved and begin work with the Bulawayo giants, a delay that has not augured well with the Bosso faithful.

The delay in applying for the work permit was caused in part by the club which last month reportedly failed to acquire a support letter from the Sports and Recreation Commission (SRC).

The letter has been issued.

Part of the requirements in applying for a work permit in the local football industry is that the prospective employer must secure letters from the SRC, the Premier Soccer League and the Zimbabwe Football Association consenting to the hiring of the targeted coach.

The club must also justify why it is hiring an expatriate coach instead of local coaches.

Akbaya��s local agent Danford Mutashu, who is in constant touch with the Dutchman, said the gaffer had a�?literally packed his luggage en route to Bulawayoa�? and was simply awaiting confirmation that the work permit is approved.

a�?In as much as it can be a bit frustrating, he has been patient and above all respects the laws of the country and wants due process to take its course. We communicate very often and I know for a fact the coach is raring to go and cannot wait to start work. His heart is at Highlanders so once the permit is approved he will be on the next plane to Bulawayo,a�? said Mutashu.

The Dutchman will not be bringing his family as yet for his first ever coaching assignment in Africa. His wife is employed in the Netherlands.

In his absence, the team is under the guidance of assistant coach Amini Soma-Phiri and goalkeepersa�� coach Cosmas Zulu.

The veteran Zulu is expected to double his duties of coaching and monitoring goalkeepers with that of playing a supervisory role on all technical issues in coaching, including juniors.

The club feels Zulu is the right man for the oversight role given his experience and maturity considering that the new recruit Akbay cannot be expected to master all the ropes overnight.

Bosso has named a provisional squad of 21 players that include six players promoted from the juniors.

Defenders Eric Mudzingwa and Felix Chindungwe as well as defensive linkman Simon Munawa had their contracts renewed.

Rahman Kutsanzira and Bruce Kangwa have also extended their stay at the club while the executive is in talks with other players.

Bosso perennial rivals Dynamos are already gloating with news that their Portuguese coach Paulo Jorge Silva has started work with the Harare giants.