adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
BATTERED by humiliating back to back heavy defeats in the opening two matches on the season, Mutare City Rovers have settled for Hartley Academy gaffer, Taku Shariwa as replacement for Kenny Kachara, Post Sport has learnt.
Kachara will assist Shariwa, while Ephraim Masakure, who was assistant coach until the latest technical reshuffle, is now in the fitness trainer’s position.
Mutare City Rovers kept faith on coach Kachara upon promotion into the Castle Lager Premiership against the will of many progressive stakeholders of the game in the eastern border city.
The club’s allegiance to Kachara-led technical department also defied common sense given his lack of requisite coaching qualifications to sit as head coach on the technical bench of a Premiership team at a time when the country boasts of almost 100 coaches with the required Caf B coaching certificate.
In a statement, City Rovers confirmed that the former Hippo Valley gaffer is the new head coach.
“We can confirm that Taku Shariwa is our new head coach with immediate effect. He takes over from Kennedy Kachara. We have not dumped Kachara as he will be an assistant coach to Shariwa. We have made this decision as part of our interventions to bring the desired results that we are all expecting.
“Shariwa is a tried tested coach with undoubted credentials and success. He has signed for a one-year contract. We hope that he will work well with the entire team and it is all our belief that we will have a very good season that we all long for.
“As the executive, we will do our best to give him the support he requires. We therefore encourage all stakeholders and supporters at large to give him maximum support.
“Our valued fans out there should not start making conclusions. Let us be patient and believe in the team. As a team, we accept criticism and we believe that there is constructive criticism that will help the
coaches and executive to make necessary amendments.
“We anticipate that Shariwa will quickly adjust and make rapid and
necessary improvements so that we start registering the desired
results. We hope he will identify areas where he needs to work on so that we can have a solid team that will bring the good results that our fans and stakeholders are expecting. What is now needed is to work together as people of Mutare in order to have a one team that will satisfy all our football needs.
“We are in this together and at the moment we remain composed and share ideas for the betterment of our team. We are now calling all stakeholders to come forward and work together. As an executive we are now opening doors to have a strong partnership that is aimed at having a one big football family called Mutare City Rovers. We have our supporters association in place that will mobilise support for our team. We are therefore imploring collective efforts from all the Mutare football lovers to come forward and play our different parts in raising funds to motivate our players,” reads part of the statement
Shariwa could not be reached for comment as his mobile remained unreachable until the time of going to Press.
Shariwa, though not very experienced when it comes to Premiership football coaching, could be a better option for City Rovers given the respect the young gaffer commands in domestic football circles.
Mutare City Rovers plunged into a forgettable Premiership debut when they were handed a humiliating 3-0 defeat at home at the hands of fellow newboys, Ngezi Platinum.
A week later, the municipality owned outfit went on to succumb to yet another morale sapping 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Harare City at Rufaro in Harare.
Gusha Bhora, as City Rovers are affectionately known, were supposed to face Harare giants, Dynamos at Sakubva Stadium on Saturday, but the match was suddenly postponed to pave way for the Independence Cup matches.
Genuine fears abound that Mutare City Rovers may not last the distance in the domestic top-flight league and may go the same way that relegated Dongo Sawmills and Buffaloes went.
Well pronounced financial challenges which have resulted in sheer lack of depth and talent in the team have not made issues any easier for City Rovers.
Online Reporter