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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
REIGNING Castle Lager Premier Soccer League champions Dynamos yesterday officially unveiled David “Yogi” Mandigora as their substantive head coach for the next three years.The contract though, is performance related.
The 2008 Caf Champions League losing semi-finalist with The Glamour Boys takes over from history making gaffer Callisto Pasuwa who stepped down after guiding DeMbare to a fourth title on the trot. Pasuwa hinted that he has always been an unwanted man although the executive painfully disputed that.
As correctly reported by Chronicle Sport way back in March, Mandigora will be assisted by another DeMbare son Tonderayi Ndiraya who was Pasuwa’s assistant before his resignation in August 2013.
“Mandigora is our new head coach and will be assisted by Ndiraya. We have given him (Mandigora) the power to choose his own goalkeepers’ coach, juniors’ coach and team manager,” said Dynamos chairman Kenny Mubaiwa.
Tichaona Diya is the outgoing goalkeepers’ coach, Phillemon Mutyakureva was Pasuwa’s assistant with Richard Chihoro holding the team manager’s portfolio.
The trio’s contracts expire at the end of this month.
Mubaiwa said they settled for Mandigora because of his vast experience and largely to the fact that he is a DeMbare son.
“Remember he also reached the Caf Champions League semi-final and to us that was an achievement worth recognising,” said the Dynamos chairman.
He revealed that they received applications from as far as Australia, Belgium, United Kingdom and Zambia but had to settle for one of their own who understands the Dynamos political dynamics.
“Our decision was also influenced by monetary issues. We believe Mandigora understands our financial position, he understands our supporters’ behaviour and they also understand him,” said Mubaiwa.
In March Mandigora allegedly wrote a letter asking to take over from Pasuwa and proposed a monthly salary of $1, 200.
Added Mubaiwa; “Former Bosso coach Kelvin Kaindu qualified too but we looked at the reality on the ground especially if things don’t work out for him, worse against Highlanders, remember he is also a former player there.”
The statement by the Dynamos boss probably effectively rules out any former Highlanders player coaching Dynamos or vice versa.
Online Reporter