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LEGENDARY goalkeeper, Japhet “Short Cat” Mparutsa has SLAMMED Ngezi Platinum’s decision to sack coach Benjani Mwaruwari after just 13 games in charge.
The Undertaker lost his job on Monday and was sacked together with his hand-picked assistant, Bongani Mafu.
“News reaching us that Benjani Mwaruwari, together with his assistant, Bongani Mafu, have been fired,” wrote Mparutsa.
“This, I feel, is not the right call.
“I accept that football is a result business. Benjani won three matches, drew six and lost four in his 13 matches in charge.
“For a new coach, this was not too bad if we consider that he took over the team when the season had already started.
“When he was employed, he was given a five-year contract. The length of the contract suggests that the Ngezi Platinum executive was planning long-term.
“Initially allowing him to play with young players also reinforced that vision.”
He added:
“But, this soon changed when results did not come, Benjani started singing from a different hymn book, he said he now wanted experienced players.
“Why did Benjani suddenly change? Was it pressure from the executive which wanted immediate success? I want to think so.
“I think there lies the problem, what does the executive want? Are they planning long-term or do they want microwave food?
“Rumours of sabotage, with the suspension of veteran gaffer Cosmas ‘Tsano’ Zulu show that the environment was poisoned.
“Maybe, this contributed to the downfall of Benjani.”
He said Ngezi Platinum leaders have down the tendency of being trigger happy when it comes to the coaches.
“From the behaviour of the Ngezi Platinum leaders in the past, this clearly shows that they are trigger happy.
“With the resources at their disposal, they can build a good team but they have to start behaving like football people.
“Patience is a virtue, which they should cultivate.
“Not everyone can be an Abrahamovich, who fires coaches willy nilly and still garnered success.
“Patience is needed in football.
“I wish Benjani all the best in his future endeavours. Stay in the game.”
Benjani won THREE of his 13 matches in charge, lost FOUR and dre1 SIX, with his team scoring 14 goals and conceding 11.
They took 15 of the 39 points on offer.
Mparutsa will probably argue that Sir Alex Ferguson, the greatest British football coach of all-time, went through a rough patch when he first arrived at Manchester United.
He didn’t win a trophy in his first three years in charge of the Red Devils, with his first silverware coming with success in the FA Cup final in May 1990.
The great Scot did not win the league until his sixth season in charge of United.
In his first 13 games, Fergie won FIVE, drew FIVE and lost THREE games, with his team scoring 17 goals and conceding 12.
United only won one match away from home, in Fergie’s first season in charge.
However, the club’s leadership kept faith in him and today he is the most successful manager in the Red Devils history. Ironically, United have not won the league since Fergie retired.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter