Saul Chaminuka
Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
BORDER Strikers coach Saul Chaminuka says he is now fed up with the environment at the Beitbridge-based outfit and will quit his job after Saturday’s game against fellow Castle Lager Premiership debutants Ngezi Platinum.
Strikers have found the going tough in their maiden PSL season and anchor the table with just three points from nine outings. The three points were from a stunning 1-0 win over Tsholotsho in Week Seven.
Strikers take on Highlanders at Barbourfields Stadium this afternoon and will be Chaminuka’s penultimate match in charge of the border town club.
The Warriors’ assistant coach said he has had enough of Strikers and Saturday’s game against Ngezi Platinum will be his last.
He said morale at Strikers was at rock bottom and the players’ body language testified to that.
“Imagine, we beat Tsholotsho on Africa Day (May 25) and after that the players only reported for training last week on Wednesday, which is three weeks later, and we trained for three days before facing Chapungu,” said Chaminuka.
“The players are not motivated at all and at the end of the day, it’s the coach who takes the flak, even when it’s not his doing. Having missed three weeks of training, it’s as if we’re in off-season within a season. I’m contemplating leaving Strikers because it’s better to stay at home,” he said.
Chaminuka said his decision to quit after the Ngezi Platinum game was because he wants to complete the programme which he started.
“It will not be proper for me to leave after the Highlanders game because there’s a programme that we’re doing. Results or no results, I have to be with these boys because they showed me love and respect even when things were not going well. I know I’ll miss coaching, but at times it’s good and healthy to coach a team that wants to train. What’s happening is like taking a donkey to the river when it doesn’t want to drink water,” Chaminuka said.
So frustrating has been Chaminuka’s stay that the players even staged protests demanding outstanding wages and sign-on fees from the club’s management.
Strikers’ secretary-general Rodlet Chigwinya said they are unaware of the coach’s intentions to leave the club.
“Chaminuka is our coach and he hasn’t communicated that he is leaving the club. Actually, he is on his way to Bulawayo for the Highlanders match. He left with the team after midday,” said Chigwinya.
Bosso should be wary of Strikers, as Chaminuka might want to leave the bottom side with a memorable win over the high riding Bulawayo giants.
A victory for Highlanders will see them shooting two points clear of present leaders Caps United from third place.
For today’s game, Highlanders will pin their hopes on the attacking trio of Knox Mutizwa, Prince Dube and Bruce Kangwa, who have each scored four goals.
Rahman Kutsanzira, who left the field on a stretcher in the 2-0 win over How Mine, has been ruled out of today’s encounter, meaning that Erick Mudzingwa will join King Nadolo and Simon Munawa in midfield.
Chindungwe, Tendai Ndlovu, Benson Phiri and Honest Moyo will form Highlanders’ defence, while Njabulo Nyoni will start ahead of regular goalkeeper Ariel Sibanda, who missed last week’s training sessions because of family commitments.
Strikers will bank on former ZPC Kariba’s Tawanda Muchaya, Michael Mwenya, formerly with Caps United, ex-Shabanie Mine’s Kudzanai Kwashi and the pair of Ephraim Mwinga and Peter Muzondo, who were at Triangle United last season, as well as former Whawha midfielder Livingstone Genti.
Chaminuka believes they can hold their own against Highlanders.
“Players tend to raise their game, especially when playing against big teams like Highlanders, and I’m sure the boys will come to the party. We’re not just fulfilling the fixture, but we’re coming to compete even though we regard this game as a training match since we have just started training. The team needs three games to get back into match mode,” said Chaminuka.
Fixtures
Today: Highlanders v Border Strikers (Barbourfields)