KAKA DEFENDS MABLANYO

Langton Nyakwenda-Zimpapers Sports Hub

LLOYD “MaBlanyo” Chigowe may be down, but he’s far from being out and he deserves some respect!

That’s the verdict from fellow coach Genesis Mangombe, who has leapt to the defence of the now former Dynamos gaffer, just days after Chigowe was axed by the Glamour Boys following a dismal run of one win in 11 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches.

“Let’s not forget what this man did for Dynamos, back-to-back Chibuku Super Cup wins! That’s no small feat,” said Mangombe, now calling the shots at Triangle United.

The irony?

It was Mangombe’s Triangle that sealed Chigowe’s fate with a clinical 2-0 win at Gibbo last Sunday, the final straw for the trigger-happy Dynamos top brass.

But Mangombe isn’t celebrating.

Instead, he’s saluting a man he worked closely with at DeMbare just two seasons ago, a man he calls “more than just a colleague.”

“You bond as coaches. You share struggles, even family stuff. So when one gets sacked, it hits you too,” said Mangombe.

Chigowe’s sacking marks Dynamos’ third coaching casualty in just over a year, following the departures of Tonderai Ndiraya, Herbert Maruwa and Mangombe himself.

Yet, despite the rough start this season, Chigowe leaves with silverware on his CV and a legacy as his success in the Chibuku Super Cup.

“People forget that,” said Mangombe. “He wasn’t bad. He brought trophies home. That counts for something.”

Now settling into life in the Lowveld, Mangombe is rebuilding his own career at Triangle, where he’s managed seven points from five games after replacing Luke Masomere.

The young gaffer who had a brief, rocky spell in Tanzania offered a word of hope for his fallen brother-in-arms.

“One thing I know, MaBlanyo will bounce back. Stronger. Smarter. Sharper. Football doesn’t end with one firing,” said Mangombe.

“The sack isn’t the end. It’s a restart. Prove yourself. Fix the mistakes. Come back harder.”