tawandamusarurwa
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
For new Black Rhinos coach Saul Chaminuka, his first match in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League after a seven-year sabbatical was not the dream return he had imagined, as he spent most of the time relaying instructions from the terraces to his players through an intermediary.
He is currently not qualified to sit in the dugout since he is yet to do a mandatory ZIFA refresher course.
Chaminuka made a sensational return to the elite league after he was appointed Black Rhinos coach, taking over from club legend Stanford “Stix” Mtizwa.
His current ordeal is shared by his peers Rodwell Dhlakama and Madinda Ndlovu.
In his first game in charge, Rhinos drew 0-0 with Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Tomorrow, they are back in action with a date against his former club ZPC Kariba at the National Sports Stadium.
“I had taken a sabbatical from the top-flight.
“It feels good to be back and, to be honest, I had missed being in action; it is one thing that I can’t live without,’’ Chaminuka, who also had a stint in Eswatini, said.
“I wouldn’t say I was out of football completely, but I have been helping small teams and academies, and training their coaches, but what I missed is the actual action of the Premier Soccer league.”
In his last stint with the Premiership in 2014, Chaminuka came within touching distance of the title, with his ZPC Kariba being pipped by Dynamos on the final day of the season.
His immediate task is to revive a Rhinos side that has endured a horrible start to the season.
“I have never coached a team that is being relegated or threatened by relegation. It is a challenge.
“Looking at the position of the team, I think it is one challenge that I have always relished,” he said. “When Black Rhinos approached me, I was busy working with my small team, Chivhu FC, back in my hometown.
“I had turned down a number of teams, saying I wanted to look at this project . . .
“I was excited at the offer . . . and I made the decision just like that.
“My wife was like, ‘but you have been offered jobs at other teams. What is so special about this team?’ I said to her I just feel like I want to go and work with the team.”
He feels tomorrow’s match is a must-win assignment for either team.
“Monday’s match will be a very difficult game for me and Black Rhinos because ZPC are motivated by the mere fact that I was their coach, even though it’s almost seven years down the line,” added the former Warriors assistant coach.
“And we will also be motivated because I wouldn’t want to lose against my former team, but, at the end of the day, it is a game of football. We are going to fight and they are also going to fight, because we are in the same bracket (relegation).”
Online Reporter