admin
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter—
HIGHLANDERS assistant coach Mark “Duvillard” Mathe will be in charge of the Bulawayo giants’ Independence Cup semi-final tie against FC Platinum at Barboufields Stadium on Sunday after head coach Kelvin Kaindu left for Zambia on Wednesday. He is enroute to the United Kingdom for his on-going Uefa B licence course and is expected back sometime next week just in time for the Castle Lager Premiership season opener against Chapungu United at Ascot Stadium.
Tshilamoya chairman Peter Dube confirmed the Zambian’s departure yesterday.
“He must have left yesterday (Wednesday) soon after training. He has a day’s lecture in the UK on Monday and then after that he is flying straight home,” said Dube.
He assured Highlanders followers that the Mbada Diamonds Cup winning coach will be in the dugout in the Midlands when Bosso take on Chapungu.
However, focus is now on the Sunday match, where Mathe will be seeking a third straight win for himself as a coach, having guided the black and white army to victory over Harare City in the semi-finals of the Bob90 Cup before a 1-0 win over FC Platinum in a friendly match.
Since then the club has lost three matches on the trot with Kaindu admitting that probably they were not yet ready in terms of gelling, despite the array of stars in their line-up.
Every game for Highlanders is a pressure game for them with the supporters demanding nothing less than victory. Having already lost to Chapungu and Dynamos in cup games this season, another loss will, for many of their fans, be unacceptable.
The two losses have seen the club losing a potential cup games revenue of $496,000 since 2012, a huge figure for a club reeling in serious debt.
The winner of the Sunday encounter will come up against either Dynamos or Harare City.
Meanwhile, the government has assured the participating teams that they will get their purse as consultations are still on-going.
The assurance was given by the Sport and Recreation Commission’s director of sports development Joseph Muchechetere.
By late afternoon yesterday there were fears that the Premiership’s season opener might not be held as there was no guarantees from government. Last year, winners were given $15,000 while losers got $10,000.
“I have just received an assurance from the government that money will be made available,” he said.
“That guarantee has been given by the government through the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture. What we have not received though are the actual figures but that will be made available as we move on,” said Muchechetere.
Online Reporter