Zifa Southern Region Division One champions, Bantu Rovers’ coach, Johannes Ngodzo is back at work after he was cleared of any wrongdoing by the club.
BY FORTUNE MBELE
Ngodzo, who helped the club to their first championship and possible promotion to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) was sent on forced leave with the club leadership claiming he had gone absent without official leave (Awol).
Club general manager, Wilbert Sibanda yesterday said the former Warriors and Highlanders midfielder had been reinstated with immediate effect.
“After preliminary investigations into the case, the coach (Ngodzo) has been cleared without even going through any disciplinary hearing and he is back at work with immediate effect. He has just picked up his letter advising him to resume his duties,” he said.
Chipo Tsodzo and Agent Sawu took charge of Bantu Rovers when they lost 1-0 in the quarter-final of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Trukumb Top-8 knockout tournament to ZRP Bulawayo at Luveve Stadium on December 3.
However, in the event, Bantu Rovers play in the PSL next year, Ngodzo will not qualify to sit on the bench as he does not meet the minimum coaching qualifications required by Zifa.
All top-flight league coaches should have at least a Caf A Licence.
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Ngodzo, who took over as head coach at the beginning of the year, replacing Mandla Mpofu, is a Zifa Level Four coach.
Sibanda yesterday said Wonder Mpofu and three senior players, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Lindelani Ncube and Lenience Mpofu, who had also been slapped with indefinite suspensions following disturbances at training, had also been cleared.
The four were being investigated for allegedly inciting other players to embark on strike and boycott training demanding promotional bonuses after Bantu Rovers clinched the Southern Region Soccer League championship following their 1-0 win over Amagagasi in Victoria Falls last month.
“They have also received their letters and are back at work,” Sibanda said.
They were suspended on the same day that Ngodzo was sent on leave on November 22.
