PSL coach in double-dipping

Fungai Muderere
CHICKEN Inn assistant coach Thulani aï¿½?Thutsaï¿½? Sibanda is reportedly being accused of serving two masters at once amid revelations that last Saturday he was part of Bulawayo Chiefsaï¿½ï¿½ entourage that went to Hwange to face ZRP Hwange.

Chiefs are a Southern Region Division One outfit who were previously under the tutelage of Sibanda before he was appointed Gamecocks assistant gaffer in May.

At Gamecocks, Sibanda is an assistant to Rahman Gumbo.

A player at Bulawayo Chiefs, who requested not to be named, told B-Metro Sport that a day before Chiefsaï¿½ï¿½ departure to the coal mining town, Sibanda addressed the clubaï¿½ï¿½s team talk at a local hotel.

aï¿½?He actually addressed the clubaï¿½ï¿½s team talk last Friday night before we left for Hwange the following day,aï¿½? said the player.

Sibanda allegedly travelled to the coal mining town in the company of Bulawayo Chiefs chairman James Rugwevera and watched the game from the terraces.

Thereafter, he travelled back to Bulawayo only to join the Chicken Inn camp late Saturday night ahead of their match against Harare City. Chicken Inn are said to have failed to hold their team talk on that very Saturday night, after setting upAï¿½ camp because of the unavailability of a coach.

The clubaï¿½ï¿½s players are further said to have watched the game between How Mine and Border Strikers at Luveve Stadium with no coach accompanying them.

aï¿½?Chicken Inn failed to hold their team talk on Saturday night as there was no coach who had shown his face at camp.

Their team talk was done on Sunday morning hours before their clash with Harare City,aï¿½? said another impeccable source.

Chicken Inn spokesperson Tawengwa Hara could neither deny nor confirm Sibandaaï¿½ï¿½s alleged double-dipping.

aï¿½?I was in camp with the boys and I had supper with them. I saw all coaches,aï¿½? said Hara.

Last week Wednesday, Sibanda is alleged to have hurriedly left the Chicken Inn training session for Turk Mine where the miners were playing host to Bulawayo Chiefs, a development that could suggest he has divided loyalty.

Sibanda said there was nothing suspicious about him being close to Chiefs, his former employers.

aï¿½?There is nothing sinister about me being close to Bulawayo Chiefs. I see no problem with that and I will not be scared away. Iaï¿½ï¿½m always with Rugwevera and Bulawayo Chiefs president Lovemore Sibanda who is a father figure to me,aï¿½? he said.

He added: aï¿½?I never addressed a Bulawayo Chiefs team talk at any stage. If I do happen to be there when they are addressing their players, is it a crime for me to chip in with my technical knowledge? Bulawayo Chiefs is like a second family to me and Iaï¿½ï¿½m looking forward to successfully doing my business at Chicken Inn, who are my current employers. Go and tell those who are behind the allegation (double dipping) that they should concentrate on current match fixing allegations.aï¿½?

However, this publication is reliably informed that the powers-that-be at the Innscor-bankrolled side are contemplating disciplinary action against him. .