adminthe showdown has already claimed its first victim before Sunday’s game.
Shabanie assistant coach Jani Milanzi was yesterday suspended on allegations that he had become too close with rivals FC Platinum.
The former Mhangura and Shabanie midfielder did not join his colleagues in the technical department when coach Luke Masomere took his charges through their paces on Monday afternoon.
“Yes it’s true that I am home. I am not going to work and I have been verbally advised to stop coming to training. Please you know our protocol get in touch with coach Luke (Masomere) or the club chairman he will tell you everything” said Milanzi.
When asked to comment on the issue Masomere said he was not a spokesperson for Shabanie.
“You can talk to him. I am not a spokesperson for the club but I am a spokesperson for the team. You can talk to the chairman about it “he said.
Efforts to contact the club chairman Webster Chitono proved fruitless as he was not picking up his mobile phone. The team patron Greg Mataka could neither deny nor confirm the suspension.
“I was out of town and I am not very much aware of what is happening in the team since I have been away” said Mataka.
However sources close to the Shabanie dressing room said Milanzi had been served with a letter of suspension. Milanzi once coached Mandava United in Division One and joined the Chinda Boys as team manager during the time when Lloyd Chitembwe was coach. He was appointed two months ago to assist Masomere when Arnold Jani and Andrew Chisunga were shown the exit by the asbestos miners.
Despite Milanzi’s suspension morale in the Shabanie camp was not dampened at Maglas as the players are reported to have actually welcomed the move.
“The coach didn’t stand up for us when we needed him most. We are happy that he is not part of us and we hope that he will not come back. He let down the likes of Arnold (Jani) when they were coaches and now he has met his fate. The community of Shabanie (fans) just did not like him as well for some reason we do not know” claimed one player on condition of anonymity.
Online Reporter