LIFE has changed for the best for coaches in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League as they now live in luxury due to changing times on the Zimbabwean football landscape
All of a sudden Zimbabwean clubs have realised that the coach is the foundation of the team and are taking all necessary steps to see to it that he is well looked after.
Gone are the days when the country's top coaches moved around the streets on foot with their 'kits' strapped right at their back.
Or the days when the coach travelled in a 'chicken bus' to and from his rural home and telling disbelieving fellow passengers that he was the coach of - for example - Dynamos Football Club.
Now the coaches drive around in all sorts of luxury vehicles with an attractive if not a competitive salary attached to their names
Although there are one or two earning around US$3 000 or slightly less, most of the PSL coaches are earning between US$4 000 to US$10 000 before winning bonuses and other benefits.
In fact, quite a number of them now move around in four - wheel drive vehicles commonly known as GD6s as they claim their rightful place in the football community.
Those who move around on foot it is because they do not have drivers' licences or it's out of choice because in such cases, they are usually driven home.
TelOne coach Hebert Maruwa admitted that they are being well looked after but disagreed that they are living in a lap of luxury.
"To be honest, our clubs are looking after us very well and we are not complaining. But to say, we are living in luxury is an exaggeration," Maruwa pointed out.
The stampede amongst the clubs to attract the best coaches during the off season break and the huge monies on offer was a clear testimony of how good coaches have become a precious stone.
Scottland, for example, are reported to have paid Norman Mapeza a staggering US$100 000 sign on fees accompanied by a house, a GD6 and a US$10 000 a month salary.
Newly promoted Hardrock lured Zambian Kelvin Kaindu from Dynamos with a reported US$10 000 a month salary on top of other perks.
Although not confirmed, Joel Luphahla is understood to have moved to FC Platinum from Simba Bhora on a US$7 000 a month salary on top of other benefits.
Highlanders signed Benjani Mwaruwari on a high salary with the finances provided by businessman Wicknell Chivhayo.
Initially, Bosso had imported South African Thabo Senong but the deal was cancelled after Chivhayo stepped in to sponsor the Highlanders coach on condition that coach was Benjani.
Zimbabwe National Soccer Coaches Association president Beki Nyoni said they are happy that coaches are now getting the sort of recognition they deserve.
"We are happy that coaches are now being rewarded with what they are worth unlike in the past when they were underrated," commented Nyoni.
Nyoni said he hoped that with all those huge incentives, the coaches would reciprocate the clubs' gesture by delivering results.
"We hope that with these good incentives the coaches will work hard to make the clubs happy," continued Nyoni.
Although financial details were kept secret, other high profile coaching moves involved Takesure Chiragwi leaving Ngezi Platinum Stars for Caps United and Tonderai Ndiraya joining Chicken Inn after parting ways with Scottland.
Mandla Mpofu replaced Luphahla as Simba Bhora coach while Genesis Mangombe crossed the floor from Triangle to rejoin Dynamos.
Of the league title contenders only MWOS and TelOne have not changed coaches with Lloyd Mutasa still in charge at The Punters and Maruwa still at the WiFi Boys.
On their part, Manica Diamonds too have stuck with former Young Warriors coach, Tafadzwa Mashiri.
What is interesting is that some of the coaches like Mangombe and Chiragwi took with them a number of players from their old club to their new destination as they say a hunter moves around with his tools.
Even more important is that the departure of Mangombe and Chiragwi opened space for underated coaches Thomas Ruzive and Kumbirai Mutiwekuziva to get their chances at Triangle and Ngezi Platinum Stars respectively.
What now remains is for the soccer season to kick off to see whether the clubs' investment in the coaches will pay off dividends.
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