adminSikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Highlanders’ captains Bekithemba “Super” Ndlovu and Dazidelio “Dazzy” Kapenya have called on the club’s hierarchy to give interim coach Amini Soma-Phiri the job on a permanent basis after he guided Bosso to a sixth place finish in the Premiership and the final of the Easycall Cup. Phiri took charge of the Highlanders’ dugout after the club parted ways with Bongani Mafu after Week 21 and led Bosso to five wins, a draw and three losses in nine league matches.
He has a 100 percent record in cup games so far and is on the verge of giving Amahlolanyama a major cup when Bosso face city rivals Chicken Inn in the Easycall Cup final set for this Saturday at Barbourfields Stadium.
When Soma-Phiri took over, very few gave him a chance while some doubting Thomases blasted the executive for picking him. The club has since conducted interviews with foreign coaches with chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede saying they were 99 percent sure of getting their target man.
However, Ndlovu and Kapenya, two players who formed a mean defence that saw Highlanders cruising to four consecutive league titles under Rahman Gumbo and Eddy May, believe Soma-Phiri could bring back smiles to the Highlanders camp if given the job.
“What else do they want? Amini has done a good job for the club and I believe he is ripe for the substantive coaching post.
Right now the club is busy looking for a white man who will be paid a huge salary while it is also not certain that he will deliver,” said Ndlovu.
He said it was clear that Soma-Phiri knows his work and employing him on a permanent basis was also economic for the financially struggling club.
Kapenya said he was 100 percent behind Soma-Phiri and called on the Highlanders leadership to pen a contract with him.
“I’m fully behind Amini, he has done well for the club and we can now walk freely in town without hiding from our rivals.
“So yes, he must be given the job and with the Sunday win, surely the guy has brought smiles to our faces,” said Kapenya.
The former Bosso and national team star defender, who was nicknamed Walker Texas Ranger, said Soma-Phiri had transformed a misfiring club into a force to reckon with and Sunday’s 2-1 win over rivals Dynamos had put the icing on the cake.
“He now has to be given a long term contract. He has clearly proven himself,” said Kapenya.
Online Reporter