By Sikhumbuzo Moyo
CELEBRATED former Nigerian international Daniel Amokachi has expressed an interest in taking charge of ailing Bulawayo giants Highlanders next season.
Bosso are in the hunt for a substantive coach to take over from the interim team of head coach Amini Soma-Phiri and technical director Cosmas Tsano Zulu.
Club chairman Peter Dube told a Press conference early this month that they wouldn’t wait until the end of the season to start hunting for a substantive coach.
Chronicle Sport understands that a number of local and foreign coaches have already submitted their CVs for vacant Bosso job.
Two nomadic coaches, Englishman Mark Harrison and Scot Des Buplin, are believed to be among the foreign applicants although it’s not known whether Amokachi is among them.
Buplin was odds on favourite to replace Kelvin Kaindu early this year but he was reportedly turned down in favour of the recently sacked Bongani Mafu.
However, Buplin seems to have a low opinion of African players after he was quoted in India in 2013 saying the problems affecting their football was that they relied too much on African players.
Amokachi, 42, has just stepped down as coach of Nigerian outfit FC Ifeanyi Ubah after differences with the club owner.
Asked by Chronicle Sport via Twitter if he would consider coaching Bosso, The Bull, as Amokachi was known during his playing days, said it was possible.
“Not a problem (coaching Highlanders), I’m ready to come over,” said Amokachi.
He started his playing career with Kaduna United of Nigeria before moving to Europe where he played for Club Brugge in Belgium from 1990 to 1994 before leaving for Everton in England.
He was with Everton for three seasons and won the FA Cup with the Merseyside club.
Amokachi left Everton for Beskitas in Turkey and later played for Creitel before joining Colorado Rapids in the US and winding up his playing career with Nasarawa United in Nigeria.
He later coached them for a season, leading them to a runners-up spot in the league race in his coaching debut in 2006.
He then worked as assistant to Nigeria supremo Shaibu Amodu as the Super Eagles qualified for the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa and remained in that role under Stephen Keshi.
Amokachi was part of the Super Eagles’ frontline during a glorious period, which included African and Olympic success.
He also starred in the 1994 Fifa World Cup in the US where he grabbed goals in the 3-0 and 2-0 group-stage wins over Bulgaria and Greece. Nigeria made it to the round of 16 where they went down 1-2 to Italy after extra time.
He was part of a fearsome Nigerian attacking trio that included Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amunike. The Chronicle
