WARRIORS coach Kalisto Pasuwa has put Chicken Inn on hold in their search for a new coach to replace Joey Antipas, who has joined South African Division One side Amazulu.
BY HENRY MHARA
The Durban-based club yesterday confirmed the deal after the formal signing of the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League reigning Coach of the Year, leaving the Zimbabwean champions with a huge task of finding a replacement.
Antipas is expected to start his new job on July 1.
A number of names have been linked with the Gamecocks job, but reports suggest that Chicken Inn have put the former Dynamos coach top of their wish list.
A source said Chicken Inn had approached the highly-regarded Pasuwa with the hope of enticing him out of his current job.
“Negotiations between the two parties have taken place and Pasuwa is actually interested,” the source said. “But it seems his decision on whether to take up the Chicken Inn job depends on the Warriors’ success against Malawi. It appears he wants to see if the Warriors can beat Malawi and qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations before he can make the final decision,” the source added.
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Pasuwa could not be reached for comment yesterday, but his manager Gibson Mahachi refuted the reports.
“I don’t know where those reports are coming from because as you are aware, Pasuwa is fully employed by Zifa. He has a running contract with the association which does not allow him to take up another job,” he said.
Chicken Inn are believed to be searching for an alternative with another former Dynamos coach, Tonderai Ndiraya, and ex-Highlanders coach Rahman Gumbo heavily linked with the post.
Speculative reports also suggest Mandla Mpofu could be appointed head coach.
A Chicken Inn executive member yesterday said: “The person we are going to appoint as head coach is currently unattached. We will announce the name soon.”
The club yesterday released a statement saying they had already identified a suitable replacement and an announcement would follow in due course. Antipas, who was away in Denmark where his son Quincy is based, is expected back in the country today.
The 57-year-old, who guided Chicken Inn to their first league title last year, will be taking with him his trusted assistant coach Prince Matore.
It is expected that a number of Chicken Inn current squad members, including Passmore Bernard and goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze, will follow suit.
AmaZulu general manager Lunga Sokhela yesterday confirmed the appointment of Mafero, as Antipas is also known.
“We have concluded the paperwork with Joey Antipas and we’re very pleased with the appointment,” he said in a statement.
“He’s someone that will definitely bring the wit and experience that we need to rise above this season’s under-achievement, and also ensure we are a strong force in challenging for promotion next season,” Sokhela said.
He also said Mafero would be travelling to Durban from time to time to observe things at the Usuthu camp under interim coach Delron Buckley until the end of the season.
Antipas holds a Caf B coaching licence and spent time under European clubs Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Brondby (Denmark) as part of his studies in 2012 and 2013.
His CV includes another league title with Motor Action in 2010, but it was his performance against South African side Mamelodi Sundowns in the Caf Champions League in February that excited them.
Chicken Inn lost 2-1 on aggregate to the Brazilians to bow out of the competition, but it was the team’s imposing performance that caught the eye and drew admiration.
It is believed that Amazulu immediately made their offer, which was initially rebuffed by the former Arcadia United defender.
“They desperately wanted him to the extent that they offered him three times what they had initially tabled. The offer was too good to resist and he was getting pressure from his wife who could not resist the chance to relocate to Durban. All the while he was negotiating, Prince (Matore) had already signed the contract,” another club executive member said.
