Bongani Mafu is new Bosso coach

By Lovemore Dube

Bongani Mafu was yesterday unveiled as Highlanders FC head coach ending weeks of speculation as to who would land the job.

Mafu was presented to the media at the team’s clubhouse in the afternoon by three members of the executive, chairman Peter Dube, secretary Andrew Tapela and committee member Charles Sibanda and chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede.

Club boss Dube said the absence of treasurer Jerry Sibanda and Harare-based vice chairman Mgcini Mpofu did not mean they were in opposed to the decision to engage Mafu.

“They are not here because they are tied up elsewhere,” said Dube.

Dube said they had settled for Mafu after taking into consideration a number of factors.

He beat strong candidates like Mark Harrison of South Africa and Scot Desmond Bulpin who was at one stage the leading candidate before Bosso considered that he could be too expensive for them against a background of a cut in sponsorship by BancABC as the Zimbabwe banking sector continues to fare badly.

The Highlanders chairman said Mafu’s predecessor Kelvin Kaindu had quit the club after positive results were not forthcoming and was replaced by his deputy Mark Mathe.

With the club still struggling, they roped in Cosmas Zulu because of his appreciation of the club’s culture and history to try and stem the tide.

Kaindu’s second half yielded a 33.3 percent success rate as did Mathe with his six games.

Highlanders led the Castle Lager Premiership standings at the half way mark but collapsed spectacularly after the departure of Milton Ncube and Kuda Mahachi and their replacements Tapiwa Dephistara and Njabulo Ncube failed to fit in their shoes.

Dube said the job had attracted a lot of interest.

“We must have had 12 people who made submissions, others phoned. Three were from Europe, one Brazilian, one from South Africa and the rest were locals from both the region and as far as Harare.

“We decided to delay the process of engaging the coach because it was not opportune time to do so while we were still confident we could do better.”

He said it would have been disrespectful of Mathe and Zulu if they were to see coaches being interviewed while they were busy trying to grind results.

“We present to you formally and officially, the new man. We have made all considerations and interests of the club in settling for Mafu who is a highly qualified coach, young enough to generate interest and ambition to succeed.

“He shares the ambition of the club that it has to look at its own junior policy and we believe he fits the bill,” said Dube.

Mafu said he appreciated the pressure that goes with coaching a club like Highlanders. He said it was a challenge to coach a team supported by his family and friends that he was looking forward to.

“The other clubs are going to struggle to beat me,” declared Mafu who is an Arsenal fan but vowed that he would not like Highlanders to play like the Londoners.

“They play brilliant football with no goals at the end so I wouldn’t want that,” said Mafu in an interview with Chronicle Sport after he was unveiled.

Mafu said his first allegiance would be to Highlanders and would not leave for further education when the team is in dire need of his services.

Kaindu’s tenure was affected by his frequent trips outside the country at times when he was expected to be hunting for talent or correcting the team’s flaws. It affected the rhythm of his game and saw cracks open up in the team when Highlanders resoundingly beat Caps United 4-0 in his absence.

It was by far the best performance by the Bulawayo side this season while some of the won games, Bosso appeared to struggle in ideas and fitness.

Club secretary Tapela said Mafu would initially be in charge for a year and his contract was renewable.

Mafu holds an advanced coaching diploma from Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches’ Association, a Germany International Coaching Certficate that puts him at instructors’ level and an UEFA B licence.

He has had attachments at St Denis in the Reunion and AC Milan in Italy apart from coaching in the UK.

For now Mafu said he would meet his predecessors and find the way forward.

A big challenge would be to identify players who could fit into the Highlanders football culture which has been in the past punctuated by effective and fast wing play that ejects fans off their seats and creativity in midfield.

Some players are expected to be released as they are past their sell by dates. The Chronicle