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Lovemore Dube Sports Editor
TENNANT Chilumba has quit as FC Platinum head coach to join former Zambian crack side Power Dynamos.
Last week the FC Platinum coach was touted as one of the favourites to land the job with the Kitwe based club after they fired their gaffer.
Yesterday FC Platinum club president George Mawere confirmed Chilumba’s departure. Many saw it coming after the Zvishavane team relinquished its top position on the log after leading in the first weeks of this year’s championships.
“FC Platinum Football Club advises that it has agreed with immediate effect to release Tennant Chilumba as its first team coach following requests for his services by Power Dynamos of Zambia as well that country’s football authorities where he serves as a member of the national team’s technical committee,” read a statement sent by the club yesterday afternoon.
Chilumba failed to match standards set by Rahman Gumbo who was however fired last year and their first coach in the Premiership the late Benjamin Moyo.
In the club’s last five outings, Chilumba managed three draws something that had seen him lose the backing of the club’s supporters. In terms of welfare and remuneration of the team, FC Platinum ranks among the best in the country and a lot has been expected of them.
What should now be of wary in the camp is the high staff turnover in the first team.
In four years they have had Jairos Tapera, the late Moyo, Philani Mabhena, Patrick Mandizha, Tendai Chikuni, Rahman Gumbo and Chilumba.
Several others have worked as assistant coaches.
It is highly unlikely that Power Dynamos will pay Chilumba as much as he was getting from FC Platinum.
He was in fact believed to be among the best paid coaches in Zimbabwe.
“Demands for his service by his country’s national team placed an overdue burden on his work schedule and made it impossible to continuously balance his frequent trips with the need to maintain regular presence at the club he dearly loved,” said the FC Platinum president.
Highlanders’ Kelvin Kaindu is also part of the Football Association of Zambia technical team and was one of the coaches analysing Zone Six matches last year in Lusaka with Chilumba.
Kaindu is believed to be helping out at his association who are engaged in the World Cup qualifiers until Sunday at a crucial time when he should be looking for mid season players to beef up his squad.
Chikuni, who has had a previous stint as coach of the club and was first assistant to Chilumba will takeover as caretaker coach until a substantive replacement is found.
A number of coaches according to sources in Zvishavane are now in the club’s radar and these include Lloyd Chitembwe, Lloyd Mutasa, Agent Sawu, Sunday Chidzambwa who was recently fired by Black Leopards of South Africa.
Mkhuphali Masuku is also said to have been on the club’s radar but following his move to Chicken Inn this week he is unlikely to be considered and so is Luke Masomere following his signing for Shabanie FC on Monday.
Masomere, one of the most vocal coaches on the land, is admired by many in the town.
Others believe Tapera should be given the job as he was involved with the club from its Division One days but was swept aside when they were promoted into the Premiership.
Yesterday the club confirmed that Anderson Phiri would stay as one of the assistant coaches.
FC Platinum with players like Charles Sibanda, Ali Sadiki, twins Elvis and Kelvin Moyo, Thabani Kamusoko, Daniel Vheremu, Frank Mulambo and Joel Ngodzo, has the arsenal to gun for honours.
Chikuni’s first assignment will be against Motor Action in Harare next Wednesday.
He will be eager to steer the club from its fifth position on the log seven points behind leaders Highlanders.
Online Reporter