Temba Dube
Innocent Kurira [email protected]
THABO Senong returns to Bulawayo this weekend, but not in the colours or circumstances many had imagined.
The South African coach arrives with FC Platinum for a Munhumutapa Cup Challenge tie against Blanket Mine, the side standing between them and progress in a competition where reputations have counted for little.
For Senong, the trip carries added significance. Bulawayo was supposed to be where his Zimbabwean coaching journey began after he was appointed by Highlanders earlier this year.
The former South Africa Under-20 coach was expected to lead the country’s oldest club, bringing experience and a reputation for youth development.
That chapter ended before he could take charge of a competitive match.
Now, his first competitive game in Bulawayo will not be in the Highlanders dugout at Luveve Stadium, but on the other side of the divide as FC Platinum face Blanket Mine in a potentially intriguing cup encounter.
Blanket Mine have nothing to lose. The lower-profile side can test itself against one of Zimbabwe’s established football forces, while its young players gain valuable experience.
That freedom could make them dangerous.
Coach Luke Jukulile-Petros has spoken of his team’s desire to continue their cup journey after preparing thoroughly for the challenge. His players are not simply turning up to make up the numbers, they want to measure themselves against opponents operating at a higher level, with the cup setting allowing them to dream of an upset.
Senong, meanwhile, must ensure FC Platinum avoid the kind of surprise that has made the Munhumutapa Cup unpredictable. He will expect his players to show the discipline and concentration required of a side expected to progress, without allowing Blanket Mine to gain belief.
The contrast in pressure is clear. FC Platinum carry the burden of expectation, while Blanket Mine can play with greater freedom. Every tackle, pass and chance could aid the visitors’ development, while victory would give them a memory lasting beyond this campaign.
And at the centre of the storyline will be Senong, back in the city where his Zimbabwe story was supposed to begin.
The coach once expected to occupy the Highlanders dugout will instead return as an opponent, focused on guiding FC Platinum through another cup hurdle. The past provides the narrative, but Saturday’s football will provide the answer.
For Senong, it is a chance to make his competitive mark in a city that was meant to be his starting point. For Blanket Mine, it is an opportunity to ensure his return is remembered for an entirely different reasons.
Fixtures
Today: Scottland v Bulawayo Chiefs (Rufaro Stadium); Hardrock v Herentals (Chahwanda Stadium); Blanket Mine v FC Platinum (Luveve Stadium).
Online Reporter