Mafu faces axe if Bosso lose

By Ricky Zililo

HARARE – Bongani Mafu will be sacked as head coach if Highlanders lose to Flame Lily in a Castle Lager Premiership tie this afternoon.

Bosso take on Flame Lily in a league match at Larfarge in the capital. Mafu can extend his stay if he posts victory this afternoon.

According to impeccable sources at the club, Mafu’s contract has a clause stating that he has to garner, at least, 18 points out of a possible 30 from his 10 official league games.

Bosso have 10 points after seven games.

It means if Flame Lily win, Mafu will fail to meet the 18-point target.

A tough encounter awaits Mafu and his charges as Flame Lily seem to have hit a right gear, posting impressive results in their last two matches.

“The coach’s fate is in his hands. If he loses to Flame Lily, according to the contract he signed, his stay at the club will effectively come to an abrupt end,” said the source.

“However, should he draw, his stay will depend on the discretion of the club’s leadership.

“But the fact of the matter is that he has a target of 18 points from 10 games.”

Should Bosso draw this afternoon, they will take their points tally to 11.

With a misfiring squad at his disposal, it remains to be seen if Mafu will outsmart Flame Lily’s Nesbert Saruchera whose side has been doing well.

According to sources, what worries Highlanders’ leadership is that Mafu seems to be finding it difficult to come up with winning formula.

Highlanders have scored three goals — Teeanage Hadebe in the 1-0 win over Tsholotsho, Webster Chingodza during the 1-0 victory over Hwange and Nqobizitha Masuku in an away 1-0 win at Dongo Sawmill.

Sources said the Highlanders leadership have been looking at past performances and they’re unhappy but have given Mafu a long rope to hang himself.

“The club doesn’t want litigations and it protected itself when engaging Mafu by setting a target that now appears difficult to attain.

“However, the club could have fired him after Week Five when they lost to Chapungu but then they didn’t want to give the coach room to sue.

“He has a long rope to hang himself and if he doesn’t attain the points he agreed to, he will have to do the honourable and walk away,” said a source.

Yesterday, Highlanders’ chief executive, Ndumiso Gumede, called on members to rally behind the coach.

“A review will be done after 10 games to see if the club is still within the target it set at the beginning of the year,” he said.

“I can’t tell you the target we set because that is a contractual issue we have with the coach.

“It (discussing the target) will be tantamount to revealing the coach’s salary because those issues are on the same page of the contract.” The Chronicle