Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Dynamos technical team colleagues Joel Luphahla and Genesis Mangombe will occupy opposing dugouts this afternoon when TelOne host Triangle at Ascot Stadium with both sides inside the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League relegation zone.
TelOne are third from bottom with 20 points from 26 matches, five points adrift of safety with eight games remaining.
Triangle anchor the 18-team standings with 15 points, 10 short of the current survival line.
Victory would lift TelOne to 23 points and revive their survival hopes, while Triangle would move to 18.
Luphahla will oversee his second match since rejoining the Wi-Fi Boys and his first in the league. His return began with a 4-1 defeat to Dynamos in the first round of the Chibuku Super Cup last weekend.
Despite the scoreline, the former Warriors midfielder was encouraged by TelOne’s first-half performance.
“Our job is to make sure the team stays afloat. From what I saw against Dynamos, I’m confident these boys can play decent football,” he said.
Luphahla guided TelOne to Premier Soccer League promotion in 2018, but could not take charge in the top flight because he did not have the required CAF A Licence.
He is working towards completing the qualification. His return follows his departure from FC Platinum by mutual consent after a difficult campaign.
Luphahla said loyalty made it difficult to turn down TelOne’s approach.
“First, TelOne is my home. This is where I honed my skills as a coach,” he said.
“When they came, I thought I was going to take a little bit of a rest and go and see my dogs. But they said they wanted me, and it was difficult to say no. With the boys they have, maybe with a little bit of input from us, we can survive.”
Luphahla also views the assignment as a personal test after his success at Simba Bhora was followed by a difficult spell at FC Platinum.
“It was a difficult job to take,” he said.
“Last season I had a little bit of success at Simba Bhora, but this season was difficult.
“I wanted to prove to myself that last season was not a fluke. If we play like we did in the first half against Dynamos, we can still survive.”
Across the technical area, Mangombe has even less room for error. Even victory at Ascot would leave Triangle seven points short of the current survival line, but defeat would push them closer to relegation.
Fixtures
Today: MWOS v ZPC Kariba (Ngoni), FC Platinum v AGAMA (Mandava), Simba Bhora v Scottland (Wadzanai), FC Hunters v Hardrock (Rufaro), Bulawayo Chiefs v CAPS United (Luveve), TelOne v Triangle (Ascot).
Tomorrow: Manica Diamonds v Ngezi Platinum Stars (Sakubva), Highlanders v Herentals (Barbourfields), Dynamos v Chicken Inn (Rufaro).
