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Raymond Jaravaza
A ZIFA Southern Region league team coach last week resigned in a huff amid an alleged tribal storm that saw the gaffer being insulted by supporters, accusing him of sidelining local boys from playing in the team.
Binga Pirates assistant coach Ashley Henry Ndebele resigned from the First Division debutants for what is said to be failure by the club executive to protect him from a section of supporters that has been hauling verbal abuse at the gaffer during home games at the team’s base in Matabeleland North Province.
The team plays its home matches at Binga High School.
Ndebele was an assistant to head coach Witness Munkuli, a former Hwange and Caps United goalkeeper.
He tendered his contract termination letter with immediate effect.
“May I take this opportunity to thank you for the wonderful chance to work under your astute leadership in this amazing project, Binga Pirates Football Club. I’m disheartened to notify the club executive that I resign from the position of assistant coach with immediate effect and wish the team all the best in its future endeavours,” wrote Ndebele.
Despite not giving reasons for the sudden departure, a source said the coach was tired of the constant abuse by a section of the club supporters while the club executive folded its arms and took no remedial action.
“The team has been doing well considering that it’s their debut season in Division One but a section of the supporters have been constantly hauling insults at Ndebele accusing him of sidelining local boys from Binga for players that come from outside the district.
“Binga Pirates is a community team but that doesn’t mean all the 30 players in the squad will be local players, it’s just not possible but some supporters will not have any of that. The executive should have addressed the issue (of the coach being verbally abused) but they did nothing forcing him (Ndebele) to resign,” said the source.
The Zifa Southern Region league is on a two-week mid-season break and Binga Pirates sit in the top six on the log standings, a comfortable position for a team playing in the First Division for the first time.
Club chairman Godwell Mavangira said he was not aware their technical bench member had resigned as a result of abuse by fans and that the club would have got to the bottom of the matter had it been reported.
Online Reporter