Leopards redeploy Mhofu

world exclusive yesterday, that Chidzambwa was set to be re-assigned as part of the club’s plans to give the Zimbabwean coach more time to concentrate on his battle to clear his name.
Chidzambwa is being replaced by former Maritzburg United coach, Ian Palmer, who is also a football analyst on SuperSport.
Lidoda Dhuva revealed on their official website that the changes in their technical department had been “prompted by the much-publicised Asiagate match-fixing and bribery scandal in which Sunday Chidzambwa was implicated and subsequently banned by the Zimbabwean Football Association.”
The Limpopo club said it was important that they give Chidzambwa enough time to deal with the issues rather than keep burdening him with the heavy load that also comes with preparing the team at training sessions and directing its operations from the bench.
“We would like to give Chidzambwa an opportunity to deal properly with these issues,” club chairman, David Thidiela said on their official website.
“We stand by him 100%, until proven otherwise. After having observed the situation we feel that he will be cleared of any wrong doing.
“However, like any other human being, we feel that the current situation will affect his performance as a head coach at Black Leopards. Unfortunately the business has to go on; hence we have moved him to a less demanding and less stressful position.”
Thidiela said their original agreement was for Chidzambwa to become technical director at the end of the season.
“It has always been our agreement with Chidzambwa that after three seasons he will be technical director and the coaches will report and be appointed by him,” said Thidiela.
“It is just unfortunate that it happened prematurely as it was only supposed to happen at the end of the current season.
“We value Sunday very highly as he has fulfilled his main mandate at Black Leopards by bringing the team back to the PSL, hence last season when he resigned we did not accept his resignation and opted to keep him in a different position.
“He later returned to the coaching position and led the team through a good run in the CAF Confed Cup and saved the team from relegation. Sunday will always be part of Black Leopards to enjoy the fruits of his hard labour.”
Earlier, yesterday, Thidiela had addressed the South African media on the changes and insisted that Chidzambwa had not stepped down due to the corruption scandal.
“We want to clear the air, we stand by our coach,” Thidiela told the South African Press Association.
“He is still our man, he is the main man at Black Leopards, he is not going anywhere until otherwise is proven.
“With all the reports and media speculation, we thought it was better to change things up a bit and promote Sunday to a higher position.
“He (Chidzambwa) will fulfil a technical role in the club and Ian Palmer, from today, will be our new coach.” Chidzambwa was one of 15 individuals who were handed life-time bans by Zifa two weeks ago after investigations into match-fixing and illegal betting. —Sports Reporter/Sapa.