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Lovemore Dube Sports Editor
BULAWAYO Chiefs have re-assigned Rahman Gumbo to their academy in a shake-up that has seen young gaffer Thulani Sibanda returning to champion the club’s quest for Premiership promotion. The log leaders had their lead cut to just two points at the weekend having at some stage enjoyed a comfortable lead of over 10 points.
In a statement yesterday, club chairman Lovemore Sibanda confirmed the return of Thulani.
“Be informed that you have been appointed the head coach of Bulawayo Chiefs with immediate effect. You are also being advised that you should hand over all the material in your possession that is meant for Chiefs Academy to the Academy co-ordinator Mr B K Khumalo. The new arrangement still falls within the contract signed between you and the club on the 26th June 2012 expiring on 01.06.2015,” reads the statement written by club boss Lovemore Sibanda who established the Bulawayo Chiefs project last year.
The letter was written yesterday and a copy given to Thulani.
When contacted for comment Thulani confirmed receiving the letter but could not be drawn into commenting more on the issue except to say he was back to his soccer home.
“I have received the letter. I will not say more as I am bound by the contract that I signed with the club last year and I respect that arrangement with my bosses. I am back home,” said Thulani.
The ambitious club that seeks to bring Premiership football to Plumtree for the first time, also wrote to Gumbo advising him that he has been re-assigned to the academy that is set to finalise its first intake of players on Friday in Plumtree.
“Reference is to your contract of employment signed on the 21.02.13. In terms of the agreement particularly clause 4.2 we wish to advise you that you will no longer be in charge of the first team with immediate effect, your focus will be on the academy as per clause 4.1 and to that effect you will required to:
• Recruit players
• Draw up training programmes and monitor their implementation as well as developing skills of all players
• Identify and recommend the equipment needed to enhance the skills of the players in respect of the academy. Note that the rest of terms and conditions of the contract will remain the same,” read the letter addressed to Allen Rahman Gumbo yesterday.
The former Highlanders coach who won two championships with Bosso, another in Malawi and one in Botswana, could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Gumbo a charismatic character was roped in at the beginning of the year as Bulawayo Chiefs technical director. After 11 matches in which the club had posted nine wins, one draw and a loss, Thulani was deployed to the juniors’ project which kicked off with a talent identification exercise in Plumtree last week.
But Thulani was not available for the start as he was in Victoria Falls attending a Caf C Licence course.
Bulawayo Chiefs paid for him to attend and it is believed the club has faith in him and there are plans for him to go abroad for more coaching courses.
Instead of being idle, the promising and respected Thulani has been working on a voluntary basis at Bantu Rovers leading them to third position with six wins, one draw and a loss in eight matches.
Bulawayo Chiefs were at the weekend beaten 4-0 by second placed Black Boots in a match that Dumisani Mantula, the log leaders’ spokesperson described as having been well handled by the referees.
“We were beaten fair and square. The refereeing was good, we just did not come to the party,” said Mantula.
He also confirmed yesterday that Gumbo would be in overall charge of the academy whose base they hope to set up in Plumtree and utilise identified talent from both Bulilima and Mangwe.
“Yes Gumbo will now be in charge of academy on basically the same terms and conditions as set in his contract. He is merely reverting tohis job,” said Mantula seemingly sounding diplomatic about the whole saga.
Gumbo has lost five matches in 14 outings as Bulawayo Chiefs coach. For a club that seemed well on course to land the title some months ago, they find themselves in a desperate bid to save their promotion hopes.
Thulani is respected in Division One where his results from last year, have made him a master tactician and a favourite to ensure Lovemore Sibanda and company live their Premiership dream.
Thulani is expected to start work this morning.
Mantula dismissed as untrue word that Thulani had been fired by the club.
“We had re-assigned him to our juniors’ project and at some stage he had pressing work commitments. To show that he was still part of the establishment a fortnight ago we sent him to the Caf C Licence workshop in Victoria Falls,” said Mantula.
Online Reporter