Race against time for Chiefs technical team

Nkosilodumo Ndebele
ALTHOUGH the 2017 Zifa Southern Region Division One champions Bulawayo Chiefs vowed to make a few changes in their squad in preparation for the 2018 Premier Soccer League (PSL), their head coachaï¿½ï¿½s future on leading them in the top tier remains uncertain.

Thulani Sibanda, the coach, has a Caf B badge which makes him ineligible to lead his team since ZIfa set a standard that in order for a coach to be allowed to sit on the technical bench, he must have a Caf A certificate with his assistant having a Caf B licence.

Sibanda might have to wait until March to have a shot at the Caf A licence. Zifaaï¿½ï¿½s technical director Wilson Mutekede told journalists that the next Caf A class would begin in March.

This means Chiefs have to find a Caf A licensed coach to head their technical team, while Sibanda and Mpofu wait for the next Caf A class.

However, Bulawayo Chiefs turned a blind eye on the issue and have continued with their head coach Thulani Sibanda.

aï¿½?The team has begun its training with Thulani Sibanda and his assistant are still our coaches. The two are the ones who are assembling the squad that will compete in this yearaï¿½ï¿½s PSL,aï¿½? said Bulawayo Chiefsaï¿½ï¿½ secretary general Dumisani Sibanda.

aï¿½?We are quite aware what the PSL requires from us in terms of the qualifications for the coach however there is still a lot of time before the PSL commences and we as the executive are working on a contingency plan to put the issue to rest,aï¿½? added Sibanda.

Sibanda added that they were happy with the progress Sibanda and his assistant had done so far.

aï¿½?Currently, we are happy that our major players who contributed to us clinching the title have already signed their contracts with us, like I said previously, they are our first preference,aï¿½? said Sibanda.

Sibanda appealed to well wishers who want to sponsor the team.

aï¿½?The main reason we are not buying players is that we are not that financially stable. We do not have the capacity to pay the high profile players. We appeal to the corporate world to assist us so that it helps run the team in the future,aï¿½? said Sibanda.

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