adminNoel Munzabwa
IT is very rare for any soccer coach to quit his job after a winning cause but for one Saul Chaminuka’s 51 match tenure as Matsapha United coach came crushing on Monday afternoon and results will indeed confirm it just had nothing to do with the results.
Since his appointment on the 12th of September 2016, Chaminuka marked his arrival in Swazilanda��s domestic football with a charming 2-0 win in the National First Division on a Friday night on the 16th of September 2016.
Chaminukaa��s new side Matsapha United dismissed Madlenya to pick their first win of the season at Mavuso Sports Centre when central defender Sabelo Gamedze and striker Sidumo Shongwe scored on either side of the break to secure maximum points for Matsapha United.
a�?It was not the best of the games, but sometimes you need to win. There are times when you need to think about the result, the destination and not the journey. I think when I look at the game, this is what Ia��ll see, but again I also think it was the starting point, the first step. Now the real journey begins,a�? Chaminuka was quoted by our sister paper, Chronicle on the 19th of September 2016.
At starting point it became with match tally rising to 51 with an immaculate 31 wins, 10 draws and as many defeats, scoring 102 goals and conceding 51, such a record should have surely made peace within the ranks but alas, some elements had their own brilliant ideas.
Despite winning his last two matches with identical 3-2 scorelines over Tambuti FC and Tinyosi and hoping to win praises, the other sector of fans had their own brilliance of spewing verbal ejaculation upon the hapless Zimbabwe mentor leaving him with no option but call it a day.
Chaminuka, being the Christian that he is, will find it in his heart to forgive the visibly irate fan who hurled a handful of verbal ballistics, most of it unprintable on this platform.
An emotionally broken Chaminuka fell short of crying in his interview with our sister paper.
a�?I have left the club for the good of the team. I will go and brief the director today (Tuesday) after meeting the MC and he will give a call on the future of the team. He will put his team in order, unfortunately for me.
a�?l am gone but it’s healthy for the team because l didn’t see myself working under the same roof as some of the members of the executive due to persistent interference, maybe my assistant Mbaya (Katala) or the new coach will be able to.
a�?Maybe my departure will be healthy for the team, for me the environment was no longer conducive. l support Sipho with all my heart and that’s why l never left even after being offered jobs by other teams, but what happened on Saturday was the last l will take, especially from this particular member of the executive.
a�?I just hope the team continues to enjoy the fine run and hopefully lift the cup, my departure must motivate the players instead of the reverse. He (Sipho) is not going to taking it well l know, but Matsapha is not about Saul or any member of the executive not even him (Sipho) it is a team of people pulling towards a common goal,a�? said Chaminuka.
As the saying goes a�?what doesna��t kill you makes you stronger,a�? Chaminuka hopes to emerge stronger from this whole debacle but for now he will soon be headed for his farm in Manyene on the outskirts of Chivhu before pondering on the next move but take solace in an incredible results card. . .
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter