
Noel Munzabwa
POPULAR Swazi soccer giants Manzini Wanderers could have firmly shut the door on embattled Shepherd Murape and set sights on engaging Rahman Gumbo for next season.
The National Football Association of Swaziland technical department has insisted Murape, a holder of a 1981 issued FIFA Diploma acquired in Yugoslavia, should produce a mandatory CAF B licence.
Bowing to this pressure, Wanderers slapped the 66-year-old Zimbabwe coach with a one week ultimatum, which has since elapsed to put his coaching papers in order.
It is with this in mind that Wanderers seem to have given up hope on Murape and preferred to look to plans for next season which have listed Gumbo as a prime target coach.
Gumbo has been earmarked to take over the coaching reins at Manzini Wanderers next season.
A source close to the matter revealed to local media that Gumbo, a holder of CAF A Licence, was being targeted.
The source stated that the team believed that Gumbo would be the right man to end the teama��s trophy drought.
a�?The elders want someone who has league winning experience and they were impressed with Gumboa��s CV which makes him a suitable candidate for the job.
a�?They are not undermining the current coaching panel which is also doing a commendable job in the team but they feel the department needs to be beefed up in order for the team to reclaim its glory days,a�? said the source.
Manzini Wanderers general manager Patrick Gamedze neither confirmed nor denied the matter when sought for comment.
a�?I am not in a position to divulge any information concerning changes in the technical bench.
a�?We will be making changes soon but I cannot commit myself any further,a�? he said.
However, it has since emerged Wanderers are yet to send overtures to Gumbo.
The former Highlanders player and coach said he was not aware of Wanderersa�� interest in him.A� Gumbo hasA� wonA� league titles with severalA� teamsA� including MTL WanderersA� from Malawi,A� HighlandersA� andA� Botswanaa��s TownshipA� Rollers.
If true this is the second time he has attracted Swazi interest with Mbabane Swallows having made advances two years ago.A� Negotiations, however collapsed leading Swallows to hire Zambian Christopher Tembo who did not last two months on the job.
In the interim, Anthony Mdluli is drilling the Wanderers assisted by Velekhaya Mthethwa and Clement Mdluli.