Magaya not our coach

Magaya is not our coach!

This was the bold declaration from MTN National First Division of Swaziland outfit Mbabane Citizens disowning former Masvingo United coach Lazarus Magaya who caused a stir at the last Caf A training course in Harare.

Speaking at the weekend after a fruitful 4-3 winning visit to Piggs Peaka��s based Malanti Chiefs at Killarney Stadium, club public relations officer Mluleki Dlamini said Magaya only made cameo drilling of the team during the first half of the season.

a�?To say Magaya is our coach as we have read in Zimbabwe media would be a big misrepresentation. He was never our coach at any time at our club but assisted us in some of the training sessions during the first half of the season.

a�?For anyone who has watched our matches they will tell you that Bongani Makhanya has been our coach and not Magaya. As a club we would like to distance ourselves from anyone who linked himself to our club.

a�?We read of the claims and skirmishes that happened during a Caf coaching clinic in Harare and unfortunately there is no action we can take against the claimant as he is not part of us,a�? said Dlamini.

According to our sister paper, the Herald, the Caf A course provided more than just football technical expertise when participants were allegedly involved in a physical scuffle which almost degenerated into a boxing skills showcase.

The second phase of what had begun in January as a training of top coaches almost witnessed the ugly farce that could have left Charles Manyuchi green which according to sources, the trigger factor was centred on the alleged unethical behaviour of a Swazi-based participant, Magaya.

Magaya stood accused of bad mouthing the entire Ngezi Platinum technical department to the teama��s bosses during the Caf Confederations Cup preliminary round second leg match against Pamplemousse at the National Sports Stadium and coercing for a job. It is alleged this did not go down well with the rest of the candidates who confronted Magaya accusing him of being highly unprofessional and breaking the coaching professiona��s ethics by disrespecting fellow coaches. The participants had gone to the stadium for match assessment purposes as part of the component of the course and watched Ngezi Platinum beat the outfit from Mauritius 1-0 sealing a 2-1 aggregate win.

It is further alleged that conveners almost expelled Magaya and two other unnamed participants before it was decided the matter would be a�?swept under the carpeta�? but the incident had already crossed the borders through modern technology.

He was to miss the end of the course after the story. The initial mole had inquired on Magayaa��s conduct in Swaziland where he was said to have claimed to be head coach at MTN National First Division outfit, Mbabane Citizens, after a nomadic nine months which started at Malanti Chiefs taking him through Ludzeludze Brothers.

In response to inquiries Magaya confirmed to have a�?greeteda�? his neighbour who is now an official at Ngezi Platinum and further claimed he failed to raise the course fees.

Further efforts to get his comment via whatsapp invited an insult which cannot be published.

@NoelMunzabwa .