Mafu gets down to work

Ngqwele Dube Sports Correspondent
NEW Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu appears to be hitting the ground running amid revelations that he is looking at beefing up Bosso’s squad with defenders and strikers after identifying the weak links in the team. Mafu was unveiled on 23 December as Highlanders coach and will start work tomorrow as he seeks to restore pride at the 2006 premiership champions.

The former Zimbabwe Saints coach said he is ready to get the ball rolling and will begin by looking at players that have been assembled by former technical director, Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu tomorrow.

Mafu said he is targeting a young goalkeeper who will be developed as he felt the three goal minders in the team were of advanced age in football terms and there was a need to start grooming someone younger.

“I also feel the team needs a natural right back while we should also recruit a left back to cover for what we have at the moment. We are also looking at beefing up the strike force with two good forwards to complement those that we have,” said Mafu, adding that he was comfortable with the options that he had in the midfield department, an area which he said he would not tamper much with.

Mafu said recruiting new players should not be misconstrued to mean that the ones who were part of the squad last year were not good enough, but there was a need for a variety of options.

“I believe the midfield links we have will do us well while recruiting players in other areas means we need to keep the competition lively among the players and ensure there is no complacency and that we have adequate cover in the event of injuries,” he said.

Although names of other members of the technical bench are set to be announced tomorrow, Sunday News Sport has it on good authority that former Bantu Rovers coach, Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu will come in as assistant coach while Netsai “Super” Moyo, has been appointed team manager with Peter “Oxo” Nkomo retained as goalkeepers coach.

Mafu said the Highlanders technical department will take over from Zulu after assessing the players and choosing who they felt would fit into the team.
“Proper training will start on Tuesday but on Monday we will have a look at the team of players that was assembled by Tsano and we thank him for the work that he has done so far. We will select those we feel can make it into the squad while releasing the rest of the players.

“On Tuesday we begin full team training, we do not think there is anything to wait for and feel we have to kick off our preparations for the coming season now,” said Mafu.

Highlanders’ players that had been on loan to other clubs and those from the junior ranks are also going to be part of the trial session tomorrow.