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Sikhmbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Mighty Warriors player Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” Sibanda is yet to formally agree terms with newly promoted Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side Tsholotsho to become assistant to coach Lizwe Sweswe.Sources, however, said the deal was almost done and last week the club was looking for accommodation for the Zimbabwe Under-20 national team coach.
A holder of a Caf A coaching badge, Sibanda has assisted Tsholotsho before in their pre-season preparations and is a close ally of Sweswe from their women’s football days in the early 2000s.
“At the moment we’ve nothing concrete, the club has not approached her, that’s the official position. We’ve previously worked with her especially in our pre-season preparations but that was just that,” said club chairman Mlamuli Phiri.
At the moment, Sweswe is assisted by Mandla Ngwenya.
“We’ve given Sweswe the green light to look for his assistant if he feels there is need to expand the technical bench,” said Phiri.
Sibanda will become the first female coach to sit on the bench of a Premier League side if she is eventually confirmed as Tsholotsho’s number two.
Iziqholo ZeZhwane, as Tsholotsho are known, began their 2015 pre-season preparations last week with the club retaining all the players that did duty for them in their Zifa Southern Region Division One League last season.
The move, however, has been met with mixed feelings from observers who feel the team needs to beef up its squad with seasoned players if they are to stand the heat in the more competitive Premiership.
“Big names are a problem, we’re content with the boys we have and we want to make them big,” said Phiri.
He remains confident that they will be able to stand their own. The club will play their matches in Tsholotsho and construction of the stadium has already started. February 26 has been set as the deadline for completion of work.
In the event the stadium is not complete, the club will use Colliery Stadium in Hwange as their home ground.
Online Reporter