Hwange coach Tenant Chilumba and Dynamos’ championship-winning coach Calisto Pasuwa are hot favourites for the 2011 Castle Premier Soccer League coach of the Year award.
Football writers meet next month after the season concludes with the Mbada Diamonds Cup final between Dynamos and Motor Action this Sunday at the National Sports Stadium.
The two gaffers have been in a class of their own in the second half of the season, and will lead their respective teams in the African safari next year.
Believe it or not . . . Hwange picked up their first win in the 2011 Castle Lager PSL in Week 7 after beating Shooting Stars 2-0 at home.
The second arrived via a 1-0 win over Blue Ribbon at home before the first away win against Caps United (1-0) in Harare, and by that, they had 12 points and were in mid-table.
And, despite that poor start, they finished in fourth position with 50 points, one behind former champions Motor Action, and eight behind second-placed FC Platinum and champions Dynamos.
Hwange coach Chilumba endured a frustrating start to the season where he had to play six away games in the opening 10 fixtures, including three in a row.
After drawing 0-0 at home against Gunners, Chipangano travelled to Masvingo where they lost 2-1 before two commendable 0-0 draws against Kiglon and Dynamos in Harare.
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The fifth week, they were back at home, drawing 2-2 against Monomotapa and losing 3-2 to Shabanie Mine the following week before the first win arrived. They lost 1-0 to Black Mambas at Morris Depot before picking up seven points from their next three games.
The turning point in the fortunes of Chilumba and company was in Week 19 when Calisto Pasuwa took over the reins at Dynamos following the sacking of Lloyd Mutasa.
It seems the arrival of Pasuwa spurred Chilumba on. Pasuwa, from the 11 games he was in charge, won nine, lost one and drew one, leading Dynamos to their second championship in the new millennium.
From a possible 33 points, Pasuwa picked up 28, which included a crucial 1-0 away win over Platinum through an own goal by Daniel Vheremu.
This means no Dynamos player scored away from Harare this season.
Chilumba, on the other hand, picked up 29 points from a possible 36 in 12 games in which he was victorious nine times, drew twice and lost once last Sunday to Gunners in the final match of the season.
Pasuwa’s advantage comes from the fact he achieved his milestone from 11 matches and was always under the media spotlight since then.
Chilumba, like Philani Ncube who won the Independence Trophy with the now defunct Njube Sundowns two years ago, has been playing it cool, preferring to let results of the field of play be his solace.
The Zambian mentor built a team that lost twice at home this season to Highlanders and Platinum, winning 10 and picking up two draws.
Coaches’ roster 2011 Dynamos — Lloyd Mutasa-Calisto Pasuwa FC Platinum — Benjamin Moyo-Philani Mabhena-Patrick Mandizha-Rahman Gumbo Motor Action — Joey Antipas Hwange — Tenant Chilumba Gunners — Darlington Dodo-Moses Chunga Caps United — Moses Chunga-Takaendesa Jongwe-Lloyd Chitembwe Highlanders — Mkhuphali Masuku Chicken Inn — Philani Ncube-Adam Ndlovu Blue Ribbon — Misheck Chidzambwa (players organized themselves for last match) Monomotapa — Taurai Mangwiro Black Mambas — John Ncube Shabanie Mine — John Phiri-Luke Masomere Masvingo — Luke Masomere-Ralph Kawondera Zimbabwe Saints — Willard Khumalo-Ephraim Chawanda — Admore Sibanda Shooting Stars — Tonderai Marume-Joisten Mathuthu-Tonderai Marume Kiglon — Rodwell Dhlakama-Takaendesa Jongwe
