Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
MEBELO Njekwa is on the verge of being appointed substantive Hwange FC head coach following Zifa’s decision to hand Nation Dube a five-year ban for his alleged involvement in match-fixing while attached with the national team.
Dube, who was suspended from conducting his duties at Hwange in March pending finalisation of the match-fixing scandal, which was termed Limpopogate, received a lighter sentence than Henrietta Rushwaya, Jonathan Musavengana, Edzai Kasinauyo and Ian Gorowa.
Rushwaya, a former Zifa chief executive officer, and controversial football administrator Jonathan Musavengana were handed life bans, while Kasinauyo, who was a Zifa board member when the scandal broke out, has been banned for 10 years together with former Warriors coach Gorowa.
Association president Philip Chiyangwa and acting general secretary Joseph Mamutse signed the notice that sealed the quintet’s fate and also exonerated football agent Kudzi Shabba.
Hwange, who are ninth on the Castle Lager PSL table with 10 points, said they would stick to Njekwa and his technical team.
“Obviously we can’t make comments without being in possession of an official letter from the national association notifying us that Dube has been banned. However, if that so happens, we’re not going to look outside for a replacement. We’ll rather continue with the present technical team that has been in charge of the squad since Dube’s suspension in March,” said Joseph Zulu, Hwange FC chairman.
His statement puts to rest rumours that Luke Masomere was heading to the Colliery.
Njekwa, who understudied Dube, is being assisted by Brian Njobvu and Chenjerai Dube.
Under Njekwa, Hwange have managed three wins against Ngezi Platinum, whom they beat 2-0, Border Strikers (1-0) and How Mine (2-0).
They drew 0-0 at home against Dynamos and lost to Highlanders, Chapungu, Harare City and ZPC Kariba.
When league matches resume at the weekend, Hwange will not be in action as their scheduled tie against Chicken Inn has been postponed since the Gamecocks have five players on national duty.
Defenders Lawrence Mhlanga and Teenage Hadebe, midfielders Danny Phiri and Tafadzwa Kutinyu, as well as striker Obidiah Tarumbwa are part of the national team that will compete at the Cosafa Senior Men’s Challenge in Namibia.
PSL Week Nine Fixtures
Saturday: FC Platinum v ZPC Kariba (Mandava), Tsholotsho FC v How Mine (White City), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Harare City (Baobab), Chapungu v Dynamos (Ascot)
Sunday: Mutare City Rovers v Bulawayo City (Sakubva), Caps United v Triangle United (National Sports Stadium), *Highlanders v Border Strikers (Barbourfields, POSTPONED), *Hwange v Chicken Inn (Colliery, POSTPONED)
*Matches postponed due to three or more players called for National team assignments.