adminFORMER Ivan Hoe coach, Julius Chakupewa is headed to Eswatini for a second dance when he joins MTN Premier League of Eswatini outfit Manzini Sundowns as the development side coach.
Chakupewa who parted ways with the Kwekwe-based Zifa Central Region Soccer League outfit over alleged unpaid salaries recently will travel to the hub town of the mountainous kingdom this weekend where he’s set to be unveiled by the club on Monday.
Sundowns have been busy searching for a head coach and a development coach since the departure of Darlington Dodo. They have reportedly settled for an unnamed Zambian-born coach to head the first team and Chakupewa for the juniors replacing Penuel Malinga.
The Midlands Province-based coach, Chakupewa confirmed the development.
“I will be travelling to Eswatini this weekend and should be at the club on Monday where I will be a development coach. The club got in touch but I still had some family issues to attend to hence the delay,” said Chakupewa.
Sundowns director Mark Carmichael recently confirmed that the team was casting its net wide to boost the academy, but did not give finer details.
“As our development products are shining in the country and beyond, there is a need to strengthen our academy. We have identified a Zimbabwean coach who can assist in this sector. Expectations are high, so some of the departed coaches have succumbed to the pressure.
“As chairman, I don’t interfere with the coaches’ job. Some just quit when they fail to produce results. We do provide them with talent to compete, as we produce quality players each season who join big teams in the country and beyond its borders,” Carmichael was quoted by a local daily tabloid.
Chakupewa’s first Eswatini tenure ended miserably after Manzini Wanderers parted ways with the Zimbabwean after the delay in obtaining the mandatory Caf A licence which he undertook in Pretoria, South Africa.
The coach had been kept on the sidelines for three months as he could not be allowed to take his seat in the dugout without a Caf A badge forcing the coach to return to Zimbabwe where he spent almost two seasons at Ivan Hoe.
derick.khumalo