Two games, 10 goals for Moses Chunga and two fired coaches.
That is the story of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League so far after winless Shooting Stars fired their ‘technical advisor’ Gishon Ntini Monday for interfering in technical decisions and poor results.
Shabanie Mine’s Saul Chaminuka was also fired Monday, just two weeks after relocating his entire family to Zvishavane and moving into a leafy suburb in the Midlands town.
Lazarus Magaya will remain as head coach but ‘more free’ now after Ntini’s interference was adjudged to have affected the performance of the team in the last two games where they lost 2-0 to FC Platinum and 5-2 to Caps United.
There was a hint on Sunday night after the defeat to Caps United that Ntini would be shown the door and a meeting took place after the game where the coach was immediately relieved of his duties.
“We have relieved him of his duties and Lazarus Magaya assumes full control of the team although we will meet tonight (last night) on the issue of a new technical advisor.
“While he (Ntini) could have been the technical advisor, he was in charge and had influence in some of the decisions made, directly leading the club.
“There was some infringement in the coach’s selection process and we quickly had to step in solve the situation. The team was not playing badly and even those who have watched the two games against FC Platinum and Caps United will testify, but the technical aspects were the problem.
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“I would also like to apologise to the referees and their association for the outbursts by Ntini I after the match against Shooting Stars. As Shooting Stars, we respect all decisions made by match officials ,” said the team’s secretary-general Wellington Takavarasha last night.
The two losses left Stars in 15th position and need to pick up maximum points against Blue Ribbon in their third league match.
While Ntini was on his way home, Caps United were assuming leadership of the top flight league after yet another five goal haul.
Caps United-double champions in 2004 and 2005-fired five past another former champion Zimbabwe Saints in the season opener and added five this weekend to take their tally to 10 in two games.
Under 23 international Simba Sithole has hit four goals in two games and leads the charts while Pride Tafirenyika — once a star destined for greater heights-seemed to have found new zeal to perform under Chunga.
He weighed in with a double at the weekend.
Chunga’s squad has some of the best players in the land and can afford to rest veterans Joel Luphahla and Stephen Alimenda while giving space to a resurgent Washington Pakamisa, Marvel Samaneka and Evans Gwekwerere.
But there is something worrisome with the Caps United defence and goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda-they can’t keep a clean sheet and in the two games, they have conceded five goals.
Arnold Chiveya, Douglas Walaza, Nyasha Mukumbi and Luckmore Simango seem to be losing concentration towards the end of each game.
In other weekend results, Monomotapa beat Highlanders 1-0 for their first win of the season, Blue Ribbon overran Black Mambas 2-0, while defending champions Motor Action were held to a goalless draw by Gunners.
