DYNAMOS’ new coach Paulo Jorge Silva risks deportation or arrest for violating immigration regulations after he conducted official duties yesterday without a work permit.
BY HENRY MHARA
The Portuguese signed a three-year deal with the Harare football giants, replacing Tonderai Ndiraya, whose contract was not renewed this year.
Dynamos applied for Silva’s work permit early this week and are yet to get the nod from the Department of Immigration.
Club president, Keni Mubaiwa yesterday told NewsDay Sport that Silva’s papers were still being processed and could be out by tomorrow.
Silva arrived in the country last Friday before he was presented to the players on Monday at the club’s training base in the capital. Under the immigration regulations, Silva was supposed to apply for the work permit while outside the country.
The 43-year-old mentor claims he is in the country as a tourist.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
However, the coach, who was signed by Nigerian league side COD United at the beginning of September last year before leaving under unclear circumstances just three months later to join Dynamos, started his official duties after he conducted the team’s morning training session – further violating immigration regulations in the process.
Silva, animated throughout the session, was in charge of the team’s drills with the assistance of his deputy, Lloyd Mutasa and goalkeepers’ coach Gift Muzadzi.
The nomadic coach has had stints at various clubs among them VfB Stuttgart, Nuremberg, Greuther Furth and Aalen of Germany, Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon, Al Wasl and Sharjah FC in the United Arab Emirates as well as African giants Esperance of Tunisia, Ghana’s Hearts of Oak and Nigeria’s Enyimba and COD United.
In 2010, Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who had signed a three-year contract with the Warriors, faced a similar situation when he conducted the team’s training session without a work permit and was deported the following day.
Yesterday’s training session was attended by more than 40 players including new arrivals, returnees and those on trials.
The team’s newest recruit, Valentine Ndaba, snapped from arch-rivals Highlanders, took part, and so did Dominic Mukandi, raided from Caps United.
The former Triangle duo of midfielder Tichaona Chipunza and goalkeeper Ashley Reyners were also heavily involved.
Some of the high-profile names on trial are former club midfielder Nathan Ziwini, Zambian Michael Mwenya, who was with Caps United last season, former Triangle defender Jimmy Dzingai and Liberty Chakoroma.
