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Sports Reporter
AMBITIOUS Premier Soccer League side GreenFuel are set to unveil a new technical team after it emerged yesterday they had finally managed to land their target Saul Chaminuka.
According to sources in the Lowveld, the Chisumbanje-based outfit has also lured Taurai Mangwiro to come in as assistant coach, and former ZIFA technical director Wilson Mutekede is expected to join them on a part-time basis as the team’s technical director.
After almost two weeks of deliberations, Chaminuka is believed to have also recommended Tembo Chuma to be part of the new technical side as goalkeeper’s coach.
Negotiations with the former keeper were at an advanced stage yesterday.
“The deal to bring Chaminuka to GreenFuel is done and dusted. He has agreed to take up the challenge and he will come with Mangwiro as his assistant. The new coaches are expected to start work tomorrow (today). The club is not backing down on its target of finishing in the top half of the table,” said the source.
After finishing 10th in their debut season, the club’s leadership has openly declared that their target for the 2024 season is to make it into the top six.
The club’s chairman Fredson Moyo was not immediately available for comment yesterday.
The Chisumbanje side has interviewed various coaches in the past few days to fill the vacancy created by the sacking of Rodwell Dhlakama and his assistant Darlington Dodo almost two weeks ago.
Dhlakama was the first PSL coach to be shown the exit following a 0-3 drubbing by CAPS United at Rufaro. The former Ngezi Platinum Stars coach was hired by the newboys in April last year and helped them survive relegation in their debut season.
He had led the side in eight games this season before the axe fell on him, just a few days after his first anniversary in the Lowveld.
Some pundits have argued that GreenFuel pulled the trigger early as Dhlakama had recorded two wins, three draws, and three defeats, leaving the side in position 12 with nine points, just six adrift of then-log leaders FC Platinum.
Former goalkeeper’s coach Innocent Chogugudza held the fort in the last two games, winning 3-0 against Arenel Movers before falling 0-1 at the hands of FC Platinum at Mandava last weekend.
Chaminuka’s arrival had been delayed because of the attracted talks between the coach and his former employers Bikita Minerals who had wanted to hold on to the coach after learning of interests from the rival clubs.
Chaminuka is set to begin his tenure with a home match against ZPC Kariba at the GreenFuel Arena this Saturday.
WEEK 10
Sunday: Arenel Movers 0-0 Highlanders, CAPS United 3-0 Hwange, Chegutu Pirates 1-2 Simba Bhora
Saturday: Bikita Minerals 1-1 TelOne, Chicken Inn 0-0 Dynamos, FC Platinum 1-0 Greenfuel
Herentals 1-0 Yadah
Ngezi Platinum 1-0 Bulawayo Chiefs
ZPC Kariba 0-2 Manica Diamonds
Online Reporter