Money talks at BOSSO: Sponsor to select new coach

. Fungai Muderere
SKA bora moreki ! (donaï¿½ï¿½t upset the buyer) is what Highlanders will be doing next season because the sponsor expected to come on board will have the final say on who coaches the Bulawayo giants.

Club chief executive officer Nhlanhla Dube said since the five-year marriage between Bosso and BancABC comes to an end in December aï¿½ï¿½ itaï¿½ï¿½s time for a new world order.

aï¿½?The hiring of the coach is a very sensitive thing and the work will be done quietly. We know that Erol Akbayaï¿½ï¿½s contract will be running out at the end of the year and he will not be renewing it. New sponsors will determine who will be coming to be our head coach. We thank BancABC for being our all-weather friends as we negotiate with new corporates,aï¿½? said Dube.

BancABC covered salaries for both players and members of the technical team at Highlanders. The regional financial services firm was also the principal sponsor for Bossoaï¿½ï¿½s rivals Dynamos. The banking entity used to inject $80 000 to each of the two clubs for signing-on fees for players.

According to sources, mobile phone operator NetOne which enjoys a good relationship with the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League defending champions, are likely to come on board and bankroll the cash troubled black and white camp.

While the Bosso ship is officially off the championship radar, Dube says to keep the team together they were hunting for an assistant coach.

aï¿½?Our focus is on getting an assistant coach and we will soon place an advert for the head coachaï¿½ï¿½s position. His recruitment will be very demanding and it has to be a thorough process. We need to come out with an ideal template,aï¿½? he said.

In April it was reported that NetOne wanted to pour $1 million into both Bosso and DeMbare but the principal backers of the two giants, BancABC, blocked the duo from going to bed with the potential new partner.

The mobile telecommunications company, which has turned its fortunes around targeted football as a partner to grow its brand.

NetOne sponsored the Warriors during their 2017 Nations Cup campaign and had also targeted sponsoring the domestic Premiership after negotiations between the PSL and Delta Beverages appeared to hit a snag.

The company offered the PSL $1,5 million, for their championship, and a further $700 000 for a knock-out tournament.

But the countryaï¿½ï¿½s top-flight leagueaï¿½ï¿½s leaders reportedly decided to stick with Delta Beverages and extended their deal by another three years.