HIGHLANDERS coach Bongani Mafu has dismissed claims he had fallen out with his captain Felix Chindungwe last week leading to him being dropped from the team that played How Mine in a Premier Soccer League match at the weekend.
BY THANDIWE MOYO
Chindungwe, who plays a full-back role in the Highlanders defence was absent with Teenage Hadebe and Erick Mudzingwa being the twin centre-backs while Bruce Kangwa played at his usual left-back position and Webster Chingodza at right-back.
The rumour mill went into overdrive when Chindungwe did not play with some saying the dreadlocked defender had a fallout with the coach.
“They had a misunderstanding last week, but the matter was swept under the carpet. The coach said it was straight talk, but it wasn’t. It was mainly about his performance in the past games since their strike,” said a source.
But Mafu said: “I didn’t have a fallout with Felix. We dropped him because of technical reasons.”
Chindungwe was not at the top of his game against Chicken Inn which Highlanders lost 2-1 and was again seemingly off form when they played a 2-2 draw against FC Platinum at Mandava a week later.
Mafu said all players understood that when they do not perform well they were not included in the starting line-up.
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“Felix understands that when he is not playing well just like any other player he will not feature in the team; he will be dropped just like any other player,” Mafu said.
Highlanders have not been performing well this season and are placed eighth on the log with 19 points from five wins and four draws.
They have won twice at home against Hwange 1-0 and Whawha 2-0 and they drew against Harare City 1-1 and How Mine.
Highlanders face their toughest opponents in two weeks’ time when they take on Harare giants and defending champions Dynamos at Rufaro Stadium.
However, Bosso have said Mafu’s job is still secure with the club’s chief executive Ndumiso Gumede saying yesterday that there was no need for anyone to panic.
“At the moment Mafu is still in charge. We have not held the meeting to review his matches and he is in charge of the team,” he said.
Mafu, according to reports, had been given 10 matches in which he had to collect 18 points, but had amassed 14 points during that period.
