Masvingo United coach Luke Masomere has reportedly ditched the Premiership football club and will join Bulawayo outfit Zimbabwe Saints in the same position, authoritative sources have told NewsDay Sport.
A source told NewsDay online that Masomere would tomorrow start duty at the tumultuous Chikwata where coaches Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo and his dismissed assistant Agent Sawu have been accused of fanning divisions among the players.
The club — league winners in 1988 — has maintained that Mashinkila-Khumalo is on sick leave and that Sawu remains fired despite attending training sessions last week.
Last night, Masomere confirmed he was on his way back to Masvingo to “have a chat” with his “former” bosses.
“Everything is above board and Masomere will be starting duty on Wednesday (tomorrow),” the source said.
Saints secretary-general Caleb Sengu yesterday could neither deny nor confirm that Masomere had joined the club, but asked this reporter to call today: “I will give you the full story.”
Club chairman Felix Dzumbunu confirmed the team was looking for a coach and there was nothing concrete regarding the Masvingo United coach. Dzumbunu said he would call back, but had not by the time of going to press.
“We are scouting. Anyone could be coming in, but at the moment there is nothing specific about Masomere,” Dzumbunu said.
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Masomere met with the Zimbabwe Saints executive on Sunday afternoon, who according to sources had organised his trip to Bulawayo for an interview.
On Sunday, the Masvingo United coach said he was in Bulawayo on his way to Botswana for personal business, but also confirmed that he was going to meet with the Chikwata executive.
Chikwata last week fired Sawu and defended the action arguing it was a move aimed at curbing divisions in the technical department, which was creating camps within the players and affecting the team’s performance.
The club has maintained that head coach Mashinkila-Khumalo is on compassionate leave as he is not feeling well, but is at pains to explain how they are searching for another coach when the incumbent in still in office.
Chikwata started off the season on a high note and they were yet to lose a match in Bulawayo under the tutelage of Mashinkila-Khumalo and Sawu.
However, their last five matches have been a bag of mixed fortunes as they have not registered a win, losing 1-0 to Hwange in their last outing at the Colliery.
Before that, Chikwata were held to a 2-2 draw by struggling Shooting Stars at White City Stadium. They fell 3-0 to Highlanders away at Barbourfields Stadium, in a match that exposed cracks within the technical team.
Before the Bosso match, Chikwata had shared the spoils with Shabanie Mine at Luveve Stadium in a goalless draw before losing to log leaders FC Platinum in Zvishavane.
