BIGBOY Mawiwi’s reign at Harare City is on the brink after just three games into the current Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season as the City Fathers ponder the unthinkable.
HENRY MHARA
City, who were beaten to the league title by mere goal difference last season, have found themselves at the bottom of the log table with absolutely nothing to show for in the early stages of the new season.
City fans were unrelenting in abuse on the beleaguered coach after their team’s 1-0 defeat against league debutants ZPC Kariba at Gwanzura Stadium last Sunday, which followed a 2-1 loss to Caps United and an embarrassing 3-0 mauling away to Chicken Inn in the season opener.
And while the reigning Coach of the Year is not likely to be sacked yet, with fingers also being pointed at the club’s secretary-general Tarisai Kwenda for alleged sabotage, anything other than victory against defending league champions Dynamos at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow could see the trigger pulled.
Kwenda has been caught up in a web of bribery allegations following the team’s poor start, with midfielder Phineas Bamusi this week making sensational claims that he was offered money by the executive member to trap Mawiwi. Kwenda has flatly denied the allegations.
While it is believed that Mawiwi still retains the support of club chairman Leslie Gwindi, there is no doubt that the maverick administrator would be under pressure to act if there was a serious and growing prospect of the team failing to replicate last season’s heroics.
“There has been a lot of talk about my future, but to be honest I’m very calm,” Mawiwi said yesterday when asked if he feared for his job following the poor start to the season.
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“I understand the fans are not happy with the team’s performance, but they should also know that there are a lot of factors contributing to that and we are working to correct them.
“We are going through a difficult phase, just like what happens to any normal football team and I’m confident it will come to an end. What we just need is a good result and everything will fall into place,” added Mawiwi, who dodged questions on allegations that are being levelled against Kwenda.
Mawiwi will be without former Dynamos stars Nathan Ziwini (knee) and Martin Vengesai (boil), Maxwell Nyamupangedengu (knee) and Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe (ankle) for the match due to injuries.
As for Dynamos, their season continues to fluctuate.
While victory at Bantu Rovers last weekend helped to ease growing doubt after two successive defeats against ZPC Kariba in the league and FC Platinum in the Uhuru Cup final, coach Kalisto Pasuwa, whose relationship with the team’s fans is fragile, knows a defeat would be a splash of cold water on the face of those who are fighting from his corner.
Pasuwa has come out publicly that he is worried by his team’s performances at home this season. They were unsatisfactory in their 1-0 defeat against ZPC Kariba and the manner of the capitulation at the hands of struggling FC Platinum was deeply humbling.
More worrying for Pasuwa going into this match, is the unavailability of midfielder Cliff Sekete, who was instrumental at Bantu.
Tawanda Muparati is still out and so is Masimba Mambare, while defender Sydney Linyama will have to pass a late fitness test.
There is some good news in their camp. Crowd favourites Ronald Chitiyo and Walter Mukanga have fully recovered and are available for selection. While this fixture is important in the way it might shape the future of the two coaches, especially that of Mawiwi, there is another equally crucial battle at Barbourfields tomorrow afternoon when Highlanders welcome Hwange in a top-of-the-table clash.
The two teams are on seven points although Highlanders enjoy a higher position due to a better goal difference.
Bosso would want to win the match to consolidate their position while Hwange will be looking to get their first victory over the early pacesetters in two seasons.
