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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
TALKATIVE Castle Lager Premier Soccer League coaches Bongani Mafu and Luke Masomere’s reigns at Highlanders and How Mine could come to an abrupt end if they lose their respective league ties tomorrow. Highlanders face second from bottom club Whawha in Gweru while How Mine take on Triangle at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.
Bosso were outplayed by FC Platinum in a midweek encounter, losing 1-2 at Barbourfields Stadium.
Sources within Highlanders and How Mine said management committees at the two clubs were unhappy with the coaches’ failure to get positive results despite their propensity for public outbursts and tantrums.
Expectations had been high that Bosso would collect their second set of maximum points against FC Platinum following their demolition of How Mine last Sunday and the club’s hierarchy is said to be miffed by Mafu’s failure to garner back-to-back victories.
Mafu torched the flames ahead of the FC Platinum game, telling journalists in his How Mine post-match interview that the Zvishavane side’s tactics were appalling, only to be silenced by the platinum miners on Thursday.
“Statistics don’t lie. The coach has underperformed in terms of results and the executive feels that since results are not coming, it will be better to part ways with him if he fails to beat Whawha on Sunday. He is aware of the possible exit in the event he loses,” said a high ranking Bosso source.
“He missed the target in the first 10 games and there was a feeling that he would improve, but it seems results are still eluding him. His tactics have been questioned during review meetings and after Thursday’s show, everyone thinks it’s time to release him.”
Chronicle Sport has it on good authority that a clause in Mafu’s contract states that he had to garner at least 18 points from his first 10 official league games, but he only managed 14 points.
Mafu has collected 11 points out of a possible 27 from nine games.
In the second half of the season, Highlanders have only managed five points – a 5-1 victory over How Mine and two draws against Triangle United and Dynamos, as well as a defeat to FC Platinum.
FC Platinum had never beaten Bosso in Bulawayo since their promotion into the league.
The loss exposed Mafu’s tactical ineptitude as he made two double substitutions at the break, pulling out wingers Rahman Kutsanzira and Godfrey Makarutse for Edmore Muzanenhamo and King Nadolo.
The move didn’t yield any result and actually allowed FC Platinum’s wingbacks Raphael Muduviwa and Elvis Moyo to overlap with ease, putting Bosso on the back foot for the better part of the last stanza.
With Nadolo coming in, Mafu pushed Obidiah Tarumbwa to the left side of midfield, thereby incapacitating the Tarumbwa-Knox Mutizwa combination that has driven Highlanders’ false resurgence. The visitors’ trio of Winston Mhango, Allan Gahadzikwa and Gerald Takwara easily won the central midfield battle and split the Highlanders’ defence with weighted passes. FC Platinum could have won by a bigger margin with a bit of luck.
Whawha will not be pushovers in tomorrow’s encounter even though they lost 0-2 to Bosso in the first leg. The prison warders were mauled 0-3 by Hwange at the Colliery in midweek.
Mafu said they have to go back to the drawing board and prepare mentally for the game against the relegation favourites.
While Mafu will be busy trying to save his job in Gweru, How Mine’s Masomere has an uphill task to escape the chop by beating championship contenders Triangle United.
The gold miners will be hoping to complete a double over Triangle, whom they beat 2-1 at Gibbo in the first half of the season.
According to sources, management at the gold miners is not happy that their title hopes are fading with each passing game. How Mine made a poor start to the second half of the season by winning once, losing twice and drawing once.
“The talk that the team is just aiming for a respectable finish isn’t true. The technical team and players are aware that the ultimate goal is to win the title. As it is, that dream is slowly fading. A few weeks back, the team was within touching distance of the log leaders (Chicken Inn), but all of a sudden it’s 10 points behind. It’s becoming difficult and if the coach fails on Sunday, then he’ll have to go,” said a source.
How Mine drew 1-1 with ZPC Kariba in a midweek encounter and will be hoping to get the better of Triangle United, who are smarting from a 0-2 home defeat to champions Dynamos.
How Mine chairman Alpha Matumbura declined to comment on the issue saying they were not pressing panic buttons yet.
“Every point at this stage is important and I’m sure the technical team is working hard to collect as many points as possible. Obviously every team has its targets and we’re not different at all. We’ll review the second third of the season after this weekend’s games, but as it is, there is no need to panic,” said Matumbura.
Fixtures
Today: Chicken Inn v Hwange (Luveve, 3PM, SuperSport), Flame Lily v Chapungu (Lafarge)
Tomorrow: Whawha v Highlanders (Ascot), How Mine v Triangle United (Barbourfields, 1PM, SuperSport), Tsholotsho FC v Dynamos (Barbourfields, 3PM, SuperSport), Caps United v Dongo Sawmill (National Sports Stadium), FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Mandava)
Monday: Harare City v Buffaloes (Rufaro)
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