VIDEO: Bosso coach takes leave

Sports Reporter

HIGHLANDERS FC assistant coaches Amini Soma Phiri and Cosmas Zulu will be in charge when Bosso take on Harare City in the Zimbabwe National Army Commander’s Charities Shield at Barbourfields 24 July in the absence of head coach Erol Abkay who is going to be on leave at that time.

Ndumiso Gumede, the Highlanders chief executive officer said they had made an arrangement with the Dutchman that he travels to his country so as to spend time with his family since he left them in February when he officially joined Bosso. He believes Soma Phiri and Zulu are qualified mentors capable enough of taking charge while the Dutchman has been away.

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Unlike other teams in the 16-team Castle Lager Premier Soccer League, Highlanders and Harare City will not have a rest during the mid season break as they meet in the ZNA Charities Shield. Highlanders are the defending champions in the competition after they defeated bitter rivals Dynamos 1-0 at Rufao Stadium in last year’s final.

“We had already promised Mr Akbay that during the mid season break he could take the time go and be with his family, as many of our supports would know he left his family in Holland, he has been away from February until now,  it’s only fair for him to go back and appraise them of his stay here. Amini Soma Phiri and Cosmas Zulu are not there just to make numbers, they are qualified coaches in their own right and therefore while he is away they will be holding fort,’’ said Gumede in an interview with freelance journalist Thandazani Zimbwa.

Gumede feels that that advantage of playing during the break is that they are not going to lose their momentum.

With the transfer window presenting teams with an opportunity to register and at same time deregister players, Highlanders have only signed one player so far. Bosso recalled their player Nhlanhla Ndlovu who was turning out for Amagagasi as direct replacement for Knox Mutizwa who has left to join South African Premiership side Bidvest Wits. Gumede disclosed that Ndlovu has been registered with the PSL.

Akbay heads home with the great news that he passed his probation for the first 10 games of the season with while his target for the end of the season being a fourth place. Highlanders collected 23 points from their first 10 games of the season with seven victories and two draws.

“When we engaged Mr Erol Akbay we set a 60 percent success for the first 10 games which means he had to amass 18 points out of the first 10 games, he exceeded that and therefore the first hurdle of his probation he has passed, his next hurdle he has to be in the top four, that is what is in his contract therefore we should not pressure ourselves into saying shall we win the league, if we win the league it will be a bonus,’’ declared Gumede.