Dhlakama named Kiglon coach

By Grace Chingoma
PREMIERSHIP soccer side Kiglon are no longer selling their franchise and have appointed a new “captain” for their ship – Rodwell Dhlakama.
Kiglon nearly went bust towards the end of last season due to financial constraints and came close to joining the likes of Eagles who could no longer stand the heat of staying in the top-flight and sold their franchise for US$16 000 to Zimbabwe Saints this month.
While Eagles will not be part of the local Premiership this season, Kiglon have resolved to soldier on after failing to get any offers for their franchise.
The Harare side were on the verge of selling their franchise to a Zimbabwean businessman who is based outside the country before the deal collapsed.
And Kiglon have now appointed former Monomotapa mentor Dhlakama as their head coach for this coming season and he will be assisted Tonderai Marume.
Marume used to coach Shooting Stars last season.
Dhlakama takes over the hot seat from Lloyd Mutasa who is now at giants Dynamos.
Kiglon chairman Douglas Mkwaiwa said they are now preparing for the new season and are no longer selling their four-year-old club.
“We intended to sell (our franchise) but at the end of the day we realised that the market was dry and have decided to soldier on.
“We are no longer negotiating with anyone and would not be selling the club. We are actually looking for sponsorship and making synergies with people who have junior development at heart.
“Although we have allowed some of our good players to join other clubs, we still have quite a number of players who can do duty for us and deliver the goods,” Mkwaiwa said.
Mkwaiwa added that the club’s position has improved from last year where they haphazardly assembled a team on the eve of the new season.
“We are preparing for the new season and we are focussed. We have improved from last year’s position financially and we have been working on our budget and contracts and the situation will not be as bad as that of last year.”
Sources close to Kiglon also said the club has struck a deal with a Nigerian firm, which would cater for the players’ salaries and welfare.
Kiglon, who finished ninth last season, have lost a number of their key players during the off-season break with Thomas Magorimbo, Denver Mukamba and Devon Chafa joining Dynamos while goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu and midfielder Martin Vengesayi are also eyeing a move to DeMbare.
Veteran striker Edmore Chitato is now at Motor Action while the trio of Takesure Chiragwi, Virimayi Mkudo and Kebby Kamhapa are training with Blue Ribbon and have agreed personal terms with the Premiership newcomers.
But Mkwaiwa said they still have a number of good players within their ranks. He insisted that goalkeeper Nyamupangedengu, Vengesayi, Seeba Maponga, Rangarirai Mbururu, William Manondo, Ngoni Chivhiri and Chank Marion are some of the players who are still in their books.
New coach Dhlakama, who began training the team two weeks ago at Mount Pleasant High School, said they were building a team of young players.
“So far I would say it is looking good for us. We started our pre-season training late than other clubs but we will cover ground and should be adequately prepared when the new season starts.
“Basically we are looking at players who are committed to the cause of the team, players who want to develop and are resilient. We don’t have players with high profile names in our team but have promoted some junior players and we also have recruited some players from Division One,” Dhlakama said.
The former Eagles pair of Simba Nyakope and Peter Muzondo, CAPS United’s Last Chibwiro and Danger Fourpence are some of the players who are training with Kiglon.
The club, which enjoys some cordial relationship with Northern Region Division One side new side DC Academy, are also hoping to get more players on loan.
DC Academy, who are owned by former Warriors defender Dickson Choto, rescued Kiglon last year when they gave them Mukamba, Mukanhairi and Chafa on loan.
The players illuminated the local Premiership scene, especially Mukamba who was a revelation and this saw him featuring for the Young Warriors in the Under-20 and Under-23 age-groups.
He also caught the eye of Warriors coach Madinda Ndlovu and was selected for the CHAN team which recently played in Sudan.