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Sibanda’s team is at the bottom of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League log.
The Premiership newboys are finding life in the elite league tough as they have lost all their three opening league games.
Quelaton narrowly lost 4-3 to Hwange in their season opener played at the Colliery Stadium, suffered a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Shabanie Mine at home and were beaten 2-0 by Chicken Inn in a derby last weekend.
The results have seen Quelaton stuck in the murky relegation waters so early and they need to wake up from their slumber if they hope to be in the Premiership next season.
Sources close to the team said former Njube Sundowns and Chicken Inn gaffer Philani ‘Beefy’ Ncube was being targeted to replace Sibanda.
The Quelaton executive is said to have met Sibanda on Monday night where they gave him an ultimatum.
“Things are not looking good for Sibanda as he has been given one game to prove that he is the right man for the job. The executive is not happy that despite firing veterans like Njabulo Ncube and Patrick Mpofu he has failed to deliver results.
What also irked the executive was that Thuts told them that he was doing everything he could with the limited material he had.
“If he loses on Saturday it will be over for him and it seems Beefy (Ncube) will be engaged to try and save the team. At the moment Beefy is in Gokwe for a Zisca coaching course,” the source said.
The Bulawayo club is struggling alongside Hardbody and both teams have conceded nine goals each from three matches. The two teams have also scored three each.
In their game against Shabanie Mine, Quelaton were disjointed and looked clueless. They were far from convincing that they deserve to be in the top-flight league.
Quelaton director Tawanda Ruzive confirmed meeting the coach to discuss his future at the club.
“The meeting we held on Monday was a routine weekly get-together where the executive meets the technical team to review the weekend games. It is true that the issue of the team’s poor run was discussed and everyone is worried that we are not winning but we are not panicking.
“Thuts (Thulani) is still the head coach and we have confidence that he will get a better result against Motor Action. If he fails, then we will take it from there. We might get someone to help him because time is running out,” said Ruzive.
Sibanda was confident that they would get it right against Motor Action.
“There are still 81 points to hunt for and if you look at last season’s log, a team with 32 points survived relegation. Our target is 40 points and I believe that it is possible to get them.
“The team is shaping up and if you look at our defence it has improved. We conceded four goals against Hwange, three to Shabanie Mine and two when we faced Chicken Inn. Now we have to work on our strikers which is our greatest worry,” he said.
Sibanda will bank on skipper Innocent Kutsanzira, Eddy Nkulungo, striker Kundishora Chakanyuka, Tedious Mugumanja, Moses Majika, defender Zibusiso Dube, Phakamani Sibanda and Fortune Nkomazana at the weekend.
Weekend fixtures
Dynamos v Black Mambas, Caps United v Harare City, Hardbody v Hwange, Blue Rangers v Chicken Inn, FC Platinum v Shabanie Mine, Quelaton v Motor Action, Buffaloes v Highlanders, Monomotapa v Gunners
Online Reporter