WHILE most local Premier Soccer League clubs would lick their lips at the prospect of having Dynamos’ want-away coach Kalisto Pasuwa as their gaffer, Harare City have ruled out any possibility of engaging the record-breaking trainer to lead their technical team next season.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Pasuwa’s contract with Dynamos comes to an end on December 31 and after leading his team to a record fourth title last month, he announced that he would not renew his deal with the league champions.
The announcement put many clubs, including foreign ones on high alert, but reports soon emerged that the former midfield magician was heading for city rivals Harare City, after he had been promised a lucrative contract which includes two residential and a commercial stand.
But Harare City secretary Mathew Marara said yesterday despite Pasuwa’s glaring achievements, he still does not meet the club’s qualities.
Marara, however, was quick to stress that the utterances were his personal opinion.
“We will be meeting as an executive soon to review our situation. We need to strengthen our technical team, but I don’t think Pasuwa is the coach we would want to lead Harare City. We look at the coach in totality, what he believes and the type of play. He has won everything, but I don’t think he is the right coach for this job. But this is my personal opinion, the executive will meet to make a collective decision. We might even have Masimba Dinyero leading us next season again but that will depend on the resolution of the entire executive,” Marara said.
The Sunshine City Boys, who finished runners up to Dynamos in the 2013 campaign had perhaps their worst campaign in the topflight league as they had to survive relegation on the final day of the league programme with a 1-0 win over Chicken Inn.
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Next season, they have set their sights on the league championships, and that would start by strengthening the technical bench which is currently led by Masimba Dinyero, interestingly, Pasuwa’s very close friend.
City, who had a troubled start to the season before Dinyero took over and steered them to safety after joining from FC Platinum, said he will be seeking to better their last campaign and even launch a championship bid.
Pasuwa lifted the championship with Dynamos for the fourth successive season on the final day of the league programme after defeating How Mine 2-0, snatching the title from ZPC Kariba’s grasp.
The Kariba-based side entered the final round of matches needing at least a draw against Caps United to clinch the title in their debut season, but wilted under the load of expectations to lose the match 3-2 to Dynamos fiercest rivals. ZPC eventually finished the campaign with 56 points, a point behind Pasuwa’s men.
With Pasuwa’s imminent departure, Dynamos have started courting a replacement and they are looking for a highly qualified coach with at least a Caf A licence coaching certificate.
The club are expected to run an advert for the post in the country’s main stream media today and Sunday and have set December 14 as the closing date for applications.
According to the advert seen by the NewsDaySport, the preferred candidate should have the following pre-requisites:
1) Caf A Licence or better, 2) Three years experience, 3) Mature individual.
Club secretary general Webster Chikengezha said all coaches, including foreign coaches who meet the criteria, were encouraged to apply for the demanding job at Dynamos.
Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro, who had been linked with the post, has ruled himself out of the demanding job, but ZPC Kariba coach Saul Chaminuka, who led his team to an incredible second-place finish, said he is ready to talk at the end of the season.
“I will only be able to talk about that at the end of the season. I am here at ZPC Kariba and I am not talking to anyone until the season ends. We are preparing for the Mbada Diamonds Cup now and can only be able to talk to anyone after that,” Chaminuka said.
However, former Highlanders coach Kelvin Kaindu — a holder of a Uefa B coaching badge who helped save Triangle from relegation, is tipped to land the powerful post. Bantu Rovers owner Methembe Ndlovu is the only other holder of a Uefa badge in Zimbabwe.
