Court case haunts Tapera

Raymond Jaravaza .
TIT for tat!

Litigation brought against Triangle United FC over eight years ago by former coach Jairos Tapera has reportedly come back to haunt the gaffer after he was snubbed to take over the team for the upcoming 2017 Premiership season.

Triangle parted ways with David Mandigora after he failed to meet a top four target set for him in the 2016 Premier Soccer League season that the Chiredzi based team finished in 11th position.

Now the club has begun the process of searching for a new coach to take over with Tapera, Luke Masomere and even Chicken Inn coach Rahman Gumbo touted to replace the axed Mandigora.

a�?In 2008 when Triangle United was still in Division One Tapera was fired before the end of his contract and he dragged the club to the Labour Court for unfair dismissal. A ruling was made by the Harare High Court and the club was ordered to pay Tapera his dues.

a�?That court case has come back to haunt Tapera as a majority of the Triangle United FC executive committee members wanted him take over the club but the decision was overturned by the club chairman,a�? a source told B-Metro Sport.

Triangle United chairman Lovemore Matikinyidze, however, disputed the claims that Tapera had been snubbed over a 2008 court case.

a�?Ia��m not in the habit of discussing hearsay but what I can say is that we have received a number of applications for the position of head coach. We should have the name of the successful applicant before the end of the year.

a�?We want to start preparations for the new season early next year so the new coach should be given enough time to work with the team,a�? said Matikinyidze.

Tapera refused to talk about the court case and suggestions that the litigation had now cost him a job eight years later.

a�?I prefer not to talk about what happened so many years ago because to me that issue is in the past. I was actually surprised to read reports that I had taken over at Triangle United. Ia��m still unemployed since leaving South Africa,a�? said Tapera.

The coach resigned from South African National First Division (NFD) side Black Leopards last month.