Second cup final defeat leaves Chaminuka on the brink

Noel Munzabwa

A FUTILE second attempt for a King Mswati III congratulatory handshake has left former Warriors assistant coach Saul Chaminuka on the brink of his Mbabane Highlanders exit after an embarrassing 1-4 defeat to Young Buffaloes in the SMVAF Ingwenyama Cup final played at Somhlolo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

A series of meetings have been going on since the Sunday evening demise as officials at the MTN Premier League of Eswatini outfit are in concerted efforts to push him to resign fearing a club-initiated sacking would cost the club an arm and a leg if such goes ahead.

Should Highlanders sack him, the coach would be entitled to 10 percent of the SMVAF Ingwenyama Cup, half-a-million rand prize money for the losing finalists, three months notice for breach of contract calculated at an estimated monthly salary of R18 000.

Given the team is in position three, Chaminuka could find ground to claim a 10 percent share of the prize money for position three and probably a repatriation fee, something that could cost the club close to R200 000 — something that could cripple the club that already owes the Premier League of Eswatini over half- a-million rand in loans and fines.

This presents a log jam, something Chaminuka is intelligently clutching on to by refusing to resign as a resignation could mean he forfeits some of the monetary entitlements.

Contacted on Tuesday, Chaminuka said he had been advised to stay home and not attend to club activities until the return of club chairman, Zweli Jele who was said to be out of the country.

“We are in talks but I am not at liberty to say anything at the moment. All I can say is that I have been asked to stay home until the return of the chairman who is out of the country. Otherwise the best people to talk to would be the club itself,” said Chaminuka.

Amid all this drama an unnamed agent is said to be angling for Darlington Dodo to replace Chaminuka and take charge of the last six league matches and while all this drama is unfolding, this correspondent can exclusively reveal the marriage has always been on the rocks since inception.

The appointment itself divided the directors and management committee but the relationship took a turn for worse three weeks ago after a league defeat to Malanti Chiefs and the Eswatini Bank Cup exit at the hands of the Rodwell Dhlakama-coached Matsapha United.

The second major cup final defeat to Buffaloes, ironically the same opponents who beat him in his first cup final in Eswatini then at Matsapha United, only widened the cracks.