Mafu has a message

Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
NEWLY appointed Tsholotsho FC assistant coach Bongani Mafu has told his paymasters that he has taken up the post to show Zimbabweans how an assistant coach should behave and conduct his duties.

Mafu’s pronouncements appear to be a veiled claim that his assistants at Bosso were sabotaging him.

He was fired at the beginning of this month together with his assistant Mandla Mpofu, goalkeepers’ coach Peter Nkomo and welfare manager Netsai Moyo following a string of poor results.

An unprecedented hat-trick of losses that plunged the Bulawayo giants onto the edge of relegation were the final straw and the Bosso executive wielded the axe.

The quiet but highly temperamental Mafu was handed a seven-game contract by Tsholotsho to assist head coach Lizwe Sweswe in a technical bench reshuffle that saw assistant coach Sithethelewe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda being demoted to the development side.

Tsholotsho chairman Mlamuli Phiri said while the club roped in Mafu as part of their survival strategy, they believe the gaffer also has a point to prove to the football fraternity after his much publicised arrival at Bosso that ended unceremoniously.

“As we were talking to him, he said he was eager to show Zimbabwe what an assistant coach is and does. He said even though he was much older than Sweswe, he was prepared to work under him so as to show what the second in charge ought to do,” said Phiri.

The Tsholotsho chairman said Mafu could be on the bench when they take on wounded FC Platinum in a must-win tie at White City Stadium on Saturday.

The Zvishavane side was dumped out of the Chibuku Super Cup by Dynamos in a penalty shootout after regulation time failed to separate the two sides and they are likely to vent their frustrations on the relegation threatened league debutants.

Iziqholo zeZhwane need at least three wins from their remaining seven games to seal their place in the elite league and according to Phiri, the dream is still very much alive.

“We are still there. It’s not over for us. We will push even harder and what is also good is that the boys are showing their hunger to continue playing in the Premiership,” he said.