CHICKEN Inn Football Club has confirmed Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu as the new head coach following the untimely death of Adam “Adamski” Ndlovu in a horrific car accident on December 16 last year.
REPORT BY FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
Sources yesterday told NewsDay Sport that Mpofu had been appointed head coach and will be assisted by Sikhumbuzo “China” Banda. There would be no major changes to the rest of the technical team.
“Ndlovu was appointed head coach last week and will be assisted by China. There are no other changes to the technical team which sees Julius Ndlovu remain as the goalkeepers’ coach and Tizirayi Lupahla as the welfare manager,” a reliable source said.
However, Partson Ndabambi, who was head coach of relegated Blue Rangers, has been linked to the “GameCox” as an assistant coach. Mpofu and Banda were assistants to the late Adamski.
The Chicken Inn executive were locked in a meeting yesterday to finalise the set-up. Chairman Lifa Ncube’s mobile phone went unanswered for the better part of the day.
Chicken Inn finished in third position last year and were preparing for an onslaught on the league title this season before Adamski’s untimely death.
Yesterday’s meeting was set to look at player targets with defender Zephaniah Ngodzo, who is at FC Platinum, likely to be a major signing for the fast-foods outlet. Kudakwashe Mahachi has been linked with a move to Caps United although no deal has been reached.
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Former Highlanders and Platinum defender Gilbert Banda is understood to be on the radar although the ex-Warriors man said he would prefer to stay with Southern Region Divsion One side Bantu Rovers. Banda’s six-month contract with “Tshintsha Guluva” expired on December 31 and the defender said he would consider renewing it.
“I have not decided yet, but I will know in a week or two. But I am seriously considering remaining at Bantu Rovers and taking them back to the Premiership after the unfortunate loss at home to Rufaro when we had all our eyes set on a return to the Premiership,” he said yesterday.
The late Adamski took over from Philani “Beefy” Ncube, whom he assisted in 2011, but the latter was relieved of his duties just before the end of the season, which saw Ndlovu’s elevation.
In 2011, Chicken Inn ended the season on position eight in the league in their debut season in top-flight league.
Adamski was then asked to recommend an assistant at the beginning of last year and he advocated for the Under-20 Young Warriors coach Mpofu and the duo took the “Drumstick Special Boys” to an unprecedented position three in the league with 50 points, 19 behind champions Dynamos and runners-up Highlanders. Chicken Inn, however, opted out of playing Africa’s best in the Orange Caf Confederation Cup, into which they had qualified, citing lack of experience.
Mpofu has a tough task ahead of him of putting up a terrific challenge in the 2013 Castle Lager Premiership to try and surpass Ndlovu’s 2012 resounding record.
