Chronicle Editor
Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
PREMIER Soccer League (PSL) side Bulawayo Chiefs are set to unveil their full coaching staff when their Portuguese head coach arrives at the weekend.
The Portuguese coach, whose identity Chiefs have kept under wraps, is expected to jet into Bulawayo on Saturday or Sunday morning, giving him just three days to work with the team ahead of next Thursday’s Chibuku Super Cup clash with Highlanders, if his work permit would have been sorted.
In a statement, Chiefs said the coach has been in constant communication with his assistants Mark Mathe and Farai Tawachera.
The club, which partnered Catapult Sports, a company that creates technology to help athletes and teams perform to their true potential, said their incoming coach has been monitoring and analysing players’ GPS data.
Chiefs are the first club in Zimbabwe to use their own GPS tracking system, which is inserted in vests that players wear.
“The whole technical team will be unveiled on Sunday, September 26, 2021. We expected the coach to fly in either on Saturday or Sunday. He’ll meet the other members of the technical team for a briefing before being introduced to players,” read Chiefs’ statement.
Chiefs are also expected to announce their strength and conditioning coach this afternoon.
The club said it received 15 applications for the strength and conditioning job, which was advertised a fortnight ago.
According to the advert, Chiefs were looking for someone with a diploma in strength and conditioning, sports science, physical education or kinesiology.
Club sources said former Highlanders’ winger Abraham Mbaiwa excelled during interviews.
“Mbaiwa, a holder of a sports science degree from Nust, impressed during his interviews and has been offered a year-long contract. Mbaiwa will be on probation for three months and if the head coach is also happy, then a longer contract will be activated,” said an impeccable source. — @ZililoR
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