Andrew
Langton Nyakwenda
Sports Reporter
HE was born on April Fool’s Day but his football philosophy is not a joke.
He actually comes across as a modest, unheralded coach. However, his brand of football has won the hearts of many neutrals.
At 39, Yadah coach Genesis Mangombe is the youngest in a PSL competition that now has new Highlanders gaffer, Brito, as the oldest at 70.
Yadah are his first Premiership job, having been appointed in January 2019 after stints with lower-division clubs, including ZRP Harare in Division Two and Black Mambas in Division One.
Mangombe, who attained a CAF ‘A’ Licence in 2017, is now into his fourth year at the club.
He has developed a knack of conjuring upsets, while his charges have caught the attention with their neat-passing game.
He has faced some of the Premiership’s most respected brains in the last five games and come out of the duels with some bit of pride.
He played against Joey Antipas, Nilton Terroso, Tonderai Ndiraya, Rodwell Dhlakama and Taurai Mangwiro and came out with eight points out of a possible 15.
Yadah held then-log leaders Chicken Inn 1-1 at Luveve on May 28, before losing 1-0 against Bulawayo Chiefs in the City of Kings the following week.
The Miracle Boys then stunned Dynamos 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium on June 25 before following that up with yet another crucial 1-0 win over ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga.
DeMbare’s defeat against Yadah was their first in open play in 13 matches, given that their 3-0 loss to Highlanders came via a boardroom decision after that game was abandoned due to crowd trouble at Barbourfields on May 15.
Today, Yadah play Herbert Maruwa’s Black Rhinos at Vengere Stadium in Rusape hoping to add more points to their tally, which currently stands at 23 from 20 outings.
“It’s good when you are posting good results. As a coach, it gives you confidence,” said Mangombe after conducting a morning training session at Yadah Complex in Waterfalls.
“We were in the relegation zone and hence we needed to work ourselves out of that mess. We have been working hard on cohesion so that our system can come out the way we train.”
The emphasis of that training session was more on ball retention in tight positions and finding pockets of spaces in two-touch small-sided games — the rondo type of training drill.
In a rondo, one group of players is tasked with keeping possession of the ball and completing a series of passes while a smaller group of players tries to wrestle possession.
This training drill is very popular at Yadah Complex.
It’s more like a culture.
“In order to win a match, you need to keep possession,” he added.
“The first thing we do at training is to play rondo because I believe if you have ball possession, you have a better chance of winning a game.
“If you chase the ball for too long you, are going to lose energy and it’s going to be difficult for you to score goals.”
Yadah have conceded not more than a goal per match in their last five outings.
In most cases, they lose or draw a match they would have dominated, with players such as Lenox Mucheto, Nkosi Mhlanga and Kudakwashe Mangani the leading lights.
Mucheto and Mangani are now linked with moves to some of the top-four clubs.
Yadah’s major weakness, however, has been their failure to convert the numerous chances they create.
“We don’t change our philosophy, even when we are losing and I believe that’s our strength.
“If you say what we are doing is wrong, we need to pump it forward because we are chasing the game, then that’s wrong. That’s not my type of football.
“We played against Chicken Inn in Bulawayo and we managed a draw. The game was very difficult; they were doing high-pressing but we kept playing it from the back.
“So, if we can manage a draw playing against Chicken Inn away, it means that the passing game works for us.
“We are also inspired by club owner Prophet Magaya. He is one guy who has confidence in everything.
“He said we are not going to fight relegation anymore and if we find ourselves in the relegation zone, we will survive.”
The club is home to one of the Premiership’s most experienced players, Ralph Matema, who is 40-years-old.
He scored the goal that sunk Dynamos with his first touch after coming off the bench.
But, Mangombe wants to add more firepower upfront.
“We are still looking for a striker and attacking midfielders. By next week (this week), that will be done and dusted; maybe, they will start to play against Ngezi Platinum Stars if all goes well.”
For now, he can think about today’s battle against Rhinos.
“Black Rhinos are at home but I don’t think it’s a plus for them because both of us are travelling that side.
“What I don’t know is the playing surface at Vengere, but I am told that surface is almost similar to our training ground here and we can use that to our advantage.”
Although he is still 39, he fears that coaching might wear him down faster.
“I am learning a lot in this coaching environment. But, you know what? You tend to grow faster when you are in charge of a Premiership team because it’s a difficult terrain!”
Mangombe wife Susan is a teacher and the couple are parents to three boys — Princely, who Form Four at Rusununguko; Tapiwanashe and Lamuel.
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