SAVED BY THE BREAK

Robson Sharuko

Editor

THERE will be a sizable number of local football fans who will feel short-changed that the three-week domestic Premiership break will take away their weekly entertainment menu.

But, for some coaches, especially Dynamos gaffer Genesis Mangombe, it could just be the lucky break he needed to keep his job in what has been a tough season for him.

His Glamour Boys have won only four times, including one victory which came via the boardroom, and they have all come against the league’s newboys — TelOne, Arenel, Bikita and Chegutu Pirates.

Some disgruntled fans have been waving placards, calling for the coach’s dismissal, while the leaking of an audio, in which the coach appeared to be criticising the team’s supporters, hasn’t helped matters.

Mangombe has denied he is the one whose voice is in that leaked video and, in the bizarre world of Artificial Intelligence, it’s very likely he will escape with his argument if this spilled into court.

But, what can’t be denied is that he has been living on the edge and, while his team played well against FC Platinum, he knows that what matters is the result and history will record he lost that game 0-1.

Those who are backing him have been arguing that the youthful coach is not the problem, but the real problem is the murky ownership structure at the club where the Marriot family wields so much influence.

He has many singing in his corner who argue that he ended the club’s lengthy wait for major silverware by winning the Chibuku Super Cup and has won every tournament he has been asked to win this year — the Castle Challenge Cup and the Independence Cup.

They are saying it’s not his fault that his players do not have the same motivation they had last season, after their winning bonuses were clashed by half, and they are yet to be paid the US$950 they have picked in bonuses.

“Some of the players were given ZiG800 for winning the Independence Cup, so you can understand the frustration,” said a source.

The break means Mangombe will escape the heat for the next three weeks in which his side were supposed to take on ZPC Kariba, Manica Diamonds and Highlanders.

The two games against Bosso and the Gem Boys, coming against a background of the intense pressure which was building around him, would have been difficult ones for Mangombe and his team.

At least, he can heave a sigh of relief for the next THREE weeks in which it appears, he has been SAVED BY THE BREAK.