adminChilumba has been given total control in choosing his backroom staff but the Zambian said he would still consult the executive on appointments.
“I know Peter very well from our playing days and even when he was with Highlanders and now FC Platinum. He is a good guy. At the moment four posts are vacant, including the goalkeepers’ trainer but in filling up those posts I will consider those that were there before. As for the assistant coach, I will need somebody who understands the culture of the community and this team and that means someone who should have played either for Shabanie Mine or FC Mimosa,” said Chilumba.
The other posts up for grabs are for the manager and fitness trainer. Tendai Chikuni, who has been interim coach, will be the first assistant.
The 2011 Castle Lager Premiership Coach of the Year said his immediate impression was that the club executive was very professional in their dealings and fully understood their boundaries and that of the technical team.
“What is of importance is that all the parties should work together, that is the team, supporters and management if we are to succeed. That is why I am insisting on having a local assistant coach so that even the supporters can identify with this team. It should not be an issue of all new faces as if we don’t have people here,” said Chilumba.
On the reported offloading of players, Chilumba said he was yet to be furnished with the list but was quick to note that as head coach, he still has the final say on who goes or stays.
He said the executive gave him their total support to recall any player that would have been transfer-listed as long as he feels the player is of importance to the team.
“I am in charge here and if I feel there is a player I need from those transfer-listed I will definitely override that decision to let him go. I got a good technical report from Chikuni though,” he said.
Sources from Zvishavane revealed that those offloaded included former skipper Zephaniah Ngodzo, Benjamin Marere, Norman Togara, Hardlife Muvindi, Tsungai Mudzamiri, Cabby Kamhapa, Thandazani Ndlovu and Rowen Nenzou.
Some of the players were released barely a few weeks after the club paid their Asiagate fines, raising suspicion that Chikuni wanted to get rid of all dissenting voices after reports of a volatile dressing room since the former assistant to ex-coach Rahman Gumbo took over at the club last season.
Meanwhile, Chilumba has described his move to the platinum miners as a big challenge for him when compared to his first port of call in Zimbabwe, Hwange.
“A lot of things are different from Hwange, chief among which is the language issue. In Hwange I was more at home because the majority of the people there spoke the same language as I and that made life easier for me. I will however adapt to the challenges as I have travelled to many different countries and cultures and besides, football is itself a universal language,” said the man who started his coaching career at Nampundwe FC, a First Division team in his homeland where he was a player/coach for two years.
He then moved to Kabwe Warriors as assistant coach during the 2003 season, helping the team win three major cup tournaments.
In his first year in Zimbabwe with Hwange, he led the coalminers to their second ever Caf Confederation Cup participation although they were knocked out in the first round by Sudan’s Alamal Atbara on away goals rule following a 1-1 home and 0-0 away draws respectively.
Online Reporter