The beautiful game's sorry site

I travelled to Swaziland before hitting the highway to Botswana on a football fact-finding mission. The Swazis were very forth-coming and helpful and the Ba Tswana a little jittery and suspicious of my intentions. They kept their cards close to their chests as if I was there to steal their jobs.

The levels and standards of the game in each country is very low. The salaries are bad. Training grounds are grassless and very hard. For an idea, even the 3rd tier teams in South Africa and Zimbabwe have better training facilities. The school grounds of Mzansi are light-years ahead. I was really gutted.

In Swaziland, I met a long lost friend I first met a decade ago in Brazil. Boy Mkhonta is now Technical Director there, taking the reins from another Brazilian graduate, Sibandze. The man's passion has grown and he is doing a fantastic job and was extremely helpful.

I could not meet my other Brazilian classmate in Botswana. Ex-Zebras coach, Stanley Tshosane was too busy with personal affairs and all our appointments failed to materialise. He promised to make amends. There were also unsuccessful attempts to meet Rahman Gumbo and Madinda Ndlovu.

It was a privilege to have the time with Barry Daka and share some moments and catch up on our fruitful past together as coaches and administrators of the game. My feeling was that Mr Daka feels he did enough for football and that he was prepared to die on the pitch. The sad part is how the game treated him wherever he went.

Many people have raised concerns about the heroes of the game who made the people, city and country proud and yet they have nothing to show for it. There are many examples of players and coaches who only can show you scares that they received for the joy of their fans and nothing else. Few will have medals to prove their prowess then. Many struggle to have meals on the table for their families.

Could the blame be on the economy or their mismanagement of their own affairs? Is the environment not good enough to have the sportsmen and women live happily ever after? Can't the situation improve and who is responsible for the demise of the former heroes?

South Africa rises as Zimbabwe is confused as ever

South African football has been on ascendence since the departure of respected and highly paid Brazilian coaches. The South Americans would normally get the credit for the foundation they laid. For a change, I will not do that. Pisto Mosimane is the man. Foreign coaches were almost derailing the pride of the nation and I am convinced that even the 2010 FIFA World Cup would have looked different under Mosimane.
 
In the African Nations Cup qualifier against record title holders, Egypt, striker Katlego Mphela killed off the match virtually with the last kick of the match, securing that famous 1-0 win. As usual with South African media, the next morning they wanted the world to know that 'Killer' was arrested for drunked driving. Such lack of news has made the world to believe Africa is a jungle. 
 
Back to football. The injury time strike means at the halfway stage of the campaign, South Africa, have seven points from three games. Egypt are 6 points behind and have a chance to revenge in June as they bid to qualify for 2012 Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. Bafana Bafana are best placed to reach finals they failed to qualify for in the year they hosted the World Cup.

On the other hand, neighbours, Zimbabwe, who supply the best personnel to the South African ABSA Premier League, are struggling with their qualifiers as they stumbled against Mali. Zimbabwe bundled the securing of Namibian coach, Tom Saintefeit to replace the inexperienced and under qualified Norman Mapeza. Madinda Ndlovu took the reigns in an acting capacity before the Warriors turned back on their vomit expecting miracles. This came after they tried to lure former coach, a successful young man who took the team to its second appearance of the tourney, Charles Mhlauri, but failed.
 
It is still early days but the principles of operation are quiet reversed. The result left the Warriors in 3rd position in Group A with 2 points from 3 matches. They trail leaders, unknown Cape Verde by 5 points. Verde beat Liberia 4-2 on Saturday. Zimbabwe had over 66 minutes to right the result but wasted the chance. Zimbabwe drew their first two matches against Liberia and Cape Verde, making it hard for themselves as matches run dry.
 
South Africa woke up and smelt the coffee. Things are working out for them, while Zimbabwe slumber and wet the blankets. Geography sometimes has nothing to do with anything.

Willard Nduna Khumalo parts with Nico

Willard Mashinkila Khumalo was suspended for three weeks by Nico United of Selebi-Phikwe, before he was dismissed on Tuesday. Khumalo had one year left on his contract after joining the BeMobile Premier League side in 2009. Nico dismissed Wiilard for what they called  unprofessional conduct.

However, Mawii refutes that, saying, he was never called for a hearing and was surprised to receive a letter terminating his contract, but he is not bitter at his dismissal. He lamented the difficulty and security of foreign coaches' jobs in Botswana. He said he will be going back home to Zimbabwe to refresh and think hard whether he can come back to Botswana.

Nduna said his dismissal at Nico has damaged his reputation after the club accused him of misconduct. He expressed disappointment that the Nico management did not take football seriously. The club however countered with an accusation of their own. They claimed players and supporters did not want him because he divided the team and failed to produce results.

The team spokesman said Willard did not have a professional conduct and did not camp with players prior to games, further saying they called Khumalo for a hearing but the Zimbabwean did not turn up and the management decided to sack him.

Nico United are notorious with a very rich history of dismissing coaches as seen by their enviable high turn-over of coaches over 7 seasons. Luke Masomere, Paul Gundani, Paul Moyo, Jim Mwale, Peter Muchina, Peter Sakonda, Madinda Ndlovu, Guston Mutobo and Johannes Tshuma and now Mashinkila-Khumalo. This means 11 coaches in seven seasons. The only coach who lasted more than one season at Nico in the last seven years is Ndlovu, who took them to 4th in 2008.

Tom Saintfeit denied work permit by Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe will have to look for another foreign coach. The nation known to be allergic to success had given a job to Tom Saintfiet of Belgium. The permit application of the former Namibian coach was unsuccessful. It means he has to go back to the Namibian Football Association to beg them to fire the current coach and give him the reigns.

Both clubs and the nation association of this diamond rich football loving state are known to be attracted to the failing foreign coaches. The local coaches have always had successes but that is not always what football there is all about.

Zimbabwe national team qualified for AFCON tournament twice under local coaches and the nation was unhappy with that success. Sunday Marimo and Charles Mhlauri did what foreign coaches will never do for Zimbabwe. Sunday actually took Dynamos to the Champions League finals while Rahman Gumbo has won more trophies and championships than any other local coach and still, Bosso and the nation do not like such success. It makes them vomit.

In 1995, the All-Africa Games under-23 teams reached the finals under Wieslow Grabowski and Barry Daka, yet that counts for nothing. I surely do not think Wieslow would be good enough, but then there are a lot other local coaches. I like foreign coaches, especially their accent when speaking English. The day that nation decides to win anything, they should go local, refrain from interefring with team selection so as to be able to throw games and just pay the coaches.

It is still to be seen how the contract Saintfeit signed will go. ZIFA may have a cool sum to pay for the termination of the contract and one cannot rule out the same mess Highlanders are in with Mohammed Fathi. Bosso are at pains literally, trying to see off their obligation to their favourite coach as the case is attracting the attention of the coach's embassy.

As for Tom, he was disqualified for engaging in employment activity without the necessary permit. ZIFA erred in letting conduct training sessions before the process was complete because they thought 'working' meant sitting on the bench in the match days, in that case, for the AFCON qualifier match against Cape Verde.

After Saintfiet's deportation, Norman Mapeza and Madinda Ndlovu were announced as joint coaches, with Madinda the head and Norman his deputy, by Ben Moyo, but the President of ZIFA gate crushed the training sessions after Moyo left and charged the 2 had 'same powers'. Mapeza has since withdrawn from serving his nation and the mother body confirmed that Mapeza was under-qualified for the job.

Madinda is currently the acting coach of the Warriors as they prepare for a friendly match against Mozambique. He will be assisted by Friday 'Amayenge' Phiri. Should ZIFA re-advertise for the post or they should just leave the Zimbabwe legends to do the job?

What exactly is wrong with our clever selves?

Today America votes. It takes one Republican president 8 years to destroy US, and Americans think it will take one Democratic president 2 years to repair the damage. They over-rate Obama. I guess it's the same as if it takes 8 monkeys to cross the Atlantic ocean 2 nights, then 2 monkeys will take 8 nights. The good thing is that dolphins don't have to vote. They would reason that the Republicans brought USA to its knees, hence it will take the Republicans to lift the US out. Elephants would really remember who got them there and they would not tolerate the small of whoever is responsible for their demise. There is this animal whose memory is so short it cannot count to 4. After hitting 3, it draws a blank. Which of the animals will vote today? That is why I am not a politician. I just don't get these things. Anyway...

Football is not divorced from politics. Nigerians got their feet tangled in the sport and FIFA banned them from international competition. It was always the desire of the government to see the national association stops the participation in football until the Nigerian Football Association house was in order. A few issues were thrown in and then it seems like after some manipulation somewhere, FIFA lifted the ban and Nigerian football will continue to nose-dive down. I can confirm they are not dealing with the far east betting syndicates. I urge you not to put your money on that one.

The Zimbabwe Warriors' coach, Tom Saintfeit will be keeping his fingers crossed hoping to hear the out-come of his work-permit application outcome next week. Given the relationship of this guy with a convicted criminal who threw matches, it is hoped he is clean. His appointment coincided with investigation of that national association bosses into the betting scandals with the Malaysian guys. Saintfeit has to work magic if he gets his permit. If he doesn't, I guess he will be earning his monies as he is the current employee of the association. His players are tainted with syndicate dollars and at least the government has promised not to interfere or prosecute the guilty ones. This makes me think that Zimbabwe and Nigeria should exchange governments. Africa is indeed a very interesting place and this may happen in a matter of hours.

The one time weird story that kept the impatient South Africans almost toyitoying was the appointment of their national coach after the 2010 FIFA World Cup. When the national association hired the $250 000 per month earning Carlos Alberto Parreira, they asked him to set up structures and recommendation to develop the game as a lasting legacy. He was to recruit and nurture one local coach to take over after he was gone. When he left, SAFA were going to interview candidates for the national team job. They have not implemented any of the the Brazilians recommendations that included junior league for under 19 players, reserve team league or even the quota of foreign players. The truth is that South Africa will hire someone sometime and ask him for recommendations and he will tell them the story they do not want to hear and then he will be fired. Now that Pitso Mosimane is the boss, usually that guy comes in as an unsolicited 'advisor' who eventually operates as a smooth criminal to 'hit' a coup.

The story is more or less in Botswana, where coach Stanley Tshosane has made a minor country into an overnight giant after the Zebras made Tunisia and Togo bite the dust in the 2012 AFCON qualifiers. Zimbabwe tasted the same dust in a friendly. Tshosane's job security is as safe as the gold bar covered by half a layer of a domestic spider's web. I guess they also want Tom Saintfeit, in which case, since he is lodging in their backyard, they can ask him to coach at night while his work permit is being sorted out.

My point actually, was the fact that Madinda Ndlovu will coach the Warriors in a friendly in Maputo soon. Ndlovu was given charge with Norman Mapeza the last time the national team was on duty. Ben Moyo delivered the message to the players that Mapeza will assist Ndlovu. As if the Belgian's departure after the immigration people showed him the border gate, the national association came back to tell the players how much a lier Moyo was. He addressed the players to say that the 2 coaches were in the government of national unity under a global football agreement. The confused players could not even see where the goals were on match day.

At this point, since it is just a friendly against Mozambique, Ndlovu is the coach and the bosses are still to come and tell players the match for money or that Saintfeit has come and will be assistant to Madinda. Do not rule out a foreign assistant coach. Crazier things have happened, and more are coming.

The 'Truth' About Tom Saintfeit Saga: I Fear Warriors Sabotage.

A divided house shall not stand, so does the Bible say and that fact is divine. Tom Saintfeit had a cool job in Namibia and parted ways with them after signing a cooler contract with the Zimbabwe national association, albeit amid in-fighting concerning his suitability. Like many of us who are not fans of foreign coaches who have come into the continent since World War 11 to impart their expertise to African coaches so that Africa can be self-sufficient-cum-reliant, the feeling that the trend will end 24 hours before the end times makes it a bitter pill to swallow.

Finally, he was appointed and is with us until yet another controvential expat signs another contract, again to impart his knowledge to local coaches. That having been a potential moral version of the excuse not to appoint the Belgian, we need to get closer to the truth. The actual truth is lethal, so we will scurry wide and long  in the periphery. For Saintfeit, Namibia is a better footballing nation. That is also the opinion of FIFA statistics mechanism that provide the ranking. That is one motivation for Tom to cross the floor. Everybody knows that when it comes to football, even my Bafana Bafana rank below the Warriors. They have been COSAFA Champions umpteenth times.

The Far East betting syndicates have been biting deep into the Southern African nation football, injecting toxic cash that has addicted a few fellows in Zimbabwe. The issue set in the rot that saw a few football officers, players and journalists being questioned by the football authorities. The Far East money has no doubt been sweet, and may have had strings attached. This would be why the bone of contention over the coach's appointment may have lied. The problem with this assumption is that it would imply that local coaches are either corrupt or can be influenced. Given the two scenarios, a betting syndicate will surely prefer a local to an expatriate, all things equal. This does not mean the expat will not eat Nando's.

Events extrapolated to an extent that Saintfeit's stay in that country was deemed illegal hence he had to be deported. That was in line with the nation's immigration laws that state that he had to be outside the country while his papers are being sorted out. The work-permit is not guaranteed. Given the circumstances preceding his appointment, success will be a miracle, at least before Sunday's Cape Verde fixture in Harare. Perhaps, that will be enough for the parties that may desire to see the local coach in charge. There has been a few cases of expat coaches being fast-tracked to get on with their jobs and I am not sure if their cases were as pressing as this one.

That said, the Technical Committee in charge of Competitions and National Teams must be recommended to act above-board. In terms of coaching qualifications, Norman Mapeza struggled with the CAF C License course, but he had been at the helm of the Warriors. His co-assistant, Madinda Ndlovu was elevated to take over as the Warriors coach until Saintfeit papers are issued, if the application for his work-permit is successful. This pushes back any doubts of whether the deportation of Saintfeit was to benefit Mapeza. As it turns out, Mapeza is still playing second fiddle. It now remains to be seen how much support and input Madinda will have to do a better job.

As it is, Ndlovu will draw comparison with Mapeza, and anyone who knows Ndlovu will tell you he does not any bull from anyone. If he does well, there will still be a battle of who is the blue-eyed one. Mapeza did a respectable job with the Warriors in the last match in a 1-1 draw in Liberia. If Madinda wins and being more qualified and more experienced, will have a nod ahead of Mapeza for whatever contest anyone will want to place between the two. As far as I can see, there is no problem now and in the future between these professional men.

Tom Saintfeit's case does not help him as he had romped someone with links of the Far East's betting syndicates. The reports from The Chronicle stated that he had brought in a CAF/FIFA Goalkeeping specialist who had done time for corrupt deals in Singapore.  German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was deported back to his native country.  Maybe this particular leopard had changed it spots, I can not say. Tom may not have known that his friend was an ex-con with a lapsed FIFA ban. What would have FIFA said if Warriors goalkeepers were terribly off-form?

And to those who actually assume the deportation of the substantive coach was supposed to benefit Mapeza as an individual may be right, and if they are, and now that it didnt', does that mean the forces at work will feel heartbroken to derail the whole train just because it is not Mapeza in charge, or will sanity prevail that at least there is a cool head of an independent opinion who should have been there a long while before now? What do you think?

The 'Truth' About Tom Saintfeit Saga: I Fear Warriors Sabotage.

A divided house shall not stand, so does the Bible say and that fact is divine. Tom Saintfeit had a cool job in Namibia and parted ways with them after signing a cooler contract with the Zimbabwe national association, albeit amid in-fighting concerning his suitability. Like many of us who are not fans of foreign coaches who have come into the continent since World War 11 to impart their expertise to African coaches so that Africa can be self-sufficient-cum-reliant, the feeling that the trend will end 24 hours before the end times makes it a bitter pill to swallow.

Finally, he was appointed and is with us until yet another controvential expat signs another contract, again to impart his knowledge to local coaches. That having been a potential moral version of the excuse not to appoint the Belgian, we need to get closer to the truth. The actual truth is lethal, so we will scurry wide and long  in the periphery. For Saintfeit, Namibia is a better footballing nation. That is also the opinion of FIFA statistics mechanism that provide the ranking. That is one motivation for Tom to cross the floor. Everybody knows that when it comes to football, even my Bafana Bafana rank below the Warriors. They have been COSAFA Champions umpteenth times.

The Far East betting syndicates have been biting deep into the Southern African nation football, injecting toxic cash that has addicted a few fellows in Zimbabwe. The issue set in the rot that saw a few football officers, players and journalists being questioned by the football authorities. The Far East money has no doubt been sweet, and may have had strings attached. This would be why the bone of contention over the coach's appointment may have lied. The problem with this assumption is that it would imply that local coaches are either corrupt or can be influenced. Given the two scenarios, a betting syndicate will surely prefer a local to an expatriate, all things equal. This does not mean the expat will not eat Nando's.

Events extrapolated to an extent that Saintfeit's stay in that country was deemed illegal hence he had to be deported. That was in line with the nation's immigration laws that state that he had to be outside the country while his papers are being sorted out. The work-permit is not guaranteed. Given the circumstances preceding his appointment, success will be a miracle, at least before Sunday's Cape Verde fixture in Harare. Perhaps, that will be enough for the parties that may desire to see the local coach in charge. There has been a few cases of expat coaches being fast-tracked to get on with their jobs and I am not sure if their cases were as pressing as this one.

That said, the Technical Committee in charge of Competitions and National Teams must be recommended to act above-board. In terms of coaching qualifications, Norman Mapeza struggled with the CAF C License course, but he had been at the helm of the Warriors. His co-assistant, Madinda Ndlovu was elevated to take over as the Warriors coach until Saintfeit papers are issued, if the application for his work-permit is successful. This pushes back any doubts of whether the deportation of Saintfeit was to benefit Mapeza. As it turns out, Mapeza is still playing second fiddle. It now remains to be seen how much support and input Madinda will have to do a better job.

As it is, Ndlovu will draw comparison with Mapeza, and anyone who knows Ndlovu will tell you he does not any bull from anyone. If he does well, there will still be a battle of who is the blue-eyed one. Mapeza did a respectable job with the Warriors in the last match in a 1-1 draw in Liberia. If Madinda wins and being more qualified and more experienced, will have a nod ahead of Mapeza for whatever contest anyone will want to place between the two. As far as I can see, there is no problem now and in the future between these professional men.

Tom Saintfeit's case does not help him as he had romped someone with links of the Far East's betting syndicates. The reports from The Chronicle stated that he had brought in a CAF/FIFA Goalkeeping specialist who had done time for corrupt deals in Singapore.  German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was deported back to his native country.  Maybe this particular leopard had changed it spots, I can not say. Tom may not have known that his friend was an ex-con with a lapsed FIFA ban. What would have FIFA said if Warriors goalkeepers were terribly off-form?

And to those who actually assume the deportation of the substantive coach was supposed to benefit Mapeza as an individual may be right, and if they are, and now that it didnt', does that mean the forces at work will feel heartbroken to derail the whole train just because it is not Mapeza in charge, or will sanity prevail that at least there is a cool head of an independent opinion who should have been there a long while before now? What do you think?

The 'Truth' About Tom Saintfeit Saga: I Fear Warriors Sabotage.

A divided house shall not stand, so does the Bible say and that fact is divine. Tom Saintfeit had a cool job in Namibia and parted ways with them after signing a cooler contract with the Zimbabwe national association, albeit amid in-fighting concerning his suitability. Like many of us who are not fans of foreign coaches who have come into the continent since World War 11 to impart their expertise to African coaches so that Africa can be self-sufficient-cum-reliant, the feeling that the trend will end 24 hours before the end times makes it a bitter pill to swallow.

Finally, he was appointed and is with us until yet another controvential expat signs another contract, again to impart his knowledge to local coaches. That having been a potential moral version of the excuse not to appoint the Belgian, we need to get closer to the truth. The actual truth is lethal, so we will scurry wide and long  in the periphery. For Saintfeit, Namibia is a better footballing nation. That is also the opinion of FIFA statistics mechanism that provide the ranking. That is one motivation for Tom to cross the floor. Everybody knows that when it comes to football, even my Bafana Bafana rank below the Warriors. They have been COSAFA Champions umpteenth times.

The Far East betting syndicates have been biting deep into the Southern African nation football, injecting toxic cash that has addicted a few fellows in Zimbabwe. The issue set in the rot that saw a few football officers, players and journalists being questioned by the football authorities. The Far East money has no doubt been sweet, and may have had strings attached. This would be why the bone of contention over the coach's appointment may have lied. The problem with this assumption is that it would imply that local coaches are either corrupt or can be influenced. Given the two scenarios, a betting syndicate will surely prefer a local to an expatriate, all things equal. This does not mean the expat will not eat Nando's.

Events extrapolated to an extent that Saintfeit's stay in that country was deemed illegal hence he had to be deported. That was in line with the nation's immigration laws that state that he had to be outside the country while his papers are being sorted out. The work-permit is not guaranteed. Given the circumstances preceding his appointment, success will be a miracle, at least before Sunday's Cape Verde fixture in Harare. Perhaps, that will be enough for the parties that may desire to see the local coach in charge. There has been a few cases of expat coaches being fast-tracked to get on with their jobs and I am not sure if their cases were as pressing as this one.

That said, the Technical Committee in charge of Competitions and National Teams must be recommended to act above-board. In terms of coaching qualifications, Norman Mapeza struggled with the CAF C License course, but he had been at the helm of the Warriors. His co-assistant, Madinda Ndlovu was elevated to take over as the Warriors coach until Saintfeit papers are issued, if the application for his work-permit is successful. This pushes back any doubts of whether the deportation of Saintfeit was to benefit Mapeza. As it turns out, Mapeza is still playing second fiddle. It now remains to be seen how much support and input Madinda will have to do a better job.

As it is, Ndlovu will draw comparison with Mapeza, and anyone who knows Ndlovu will tell you he does not any bull from anyone. If he does well, there will still be a battle of who is the blue-eyed one. Mapeza did a respectable job with the Warriors in the last match in a 1-1 draw in Liberia. If Madinda wins and being more qualified and more experienced, will have a nod ahead of Mapeza for whatever contest anyone will want to place between the two. As far as I can see, there is no problem now and in the future between these professional men.

Tom Saintfeit's case does not help him as he had romped someone with links of the Far East's betting syndicates. The reports from The Chronicle stated that he had brought in a CAF/FIFA Goalkeeping specialist who had done time for corrupt deals in Singapore.  German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was deported back to his native country.  Maybe this particular leopard had changed it spots, I can not say. Tom may not have known that his friend was an ex-con with a lapsed FIFA ban. What would have FIFA said if Warriors goalkeepers were terribly off-form?

And to those who actually assume the deportation of the substantive coach was supposed to benefit Mapeza as an individual may be right, and if they are, and now that it didnt', does that mean the forces at work will feel heartbroken to derail the whole train just because it is not Mapeza in charge, or will sanity prevail that at least there is a cool head of an independent opinion who should have been there a long while before now? What do you think?

The 'Truth' About Tom Saintfeit Saga: I Fear Warriors Sabotage.

A divided house shall not stand, so does the Bible say and that fact is divine. Tom Saintfeit had a cool job in Namibia and parted ways with them after signing a cooler contract with the Zimbabwe national association, albeit amid in-fighting concerning his suitability. Like many of us who are not fans of foreign coaches who have come into the continent since World War 11 to impart their expertise to African coaches so that Africa can be self-sufficient-cum-reliant, the feeling that the trend will end 24 hours before the end times makes it a bitter pill to swallow.

Finally, he was appointed and is with us until yet another controvential expat signs another contract, again to impart his knowledge to local coaches. That having been a potential moral version of the excuse not to appoint the Belgian, we need to get closer to the truth. The actual truth is lethal, so we will scurry wide and long  in the periphery. For Saintfeit, Namibia is a better footballing nation. That is also the opinion of FIFA statistics mechanism that provide the ranking. That is one motivation for Tom to cross the floor. Everybody knows that when it comes to football, even my Bafana Bafana rank below the Warriors. They have been COSAFA Champions umpteenth times.

The Far East betting syndicates have been biting deep into the Southern African nation football, injecting toxic cash that has addicted a few fellows in Zimbabwe. The issue set in the rot that saw a few football officers, players and journalists being questioned by the football authorities. The Far East money has no doubt been sweet, and may have had strings attached. This would be why the bone of contention over the coach's appointment may have lied. The problem with this assumption is that it would imply that local coaches are either corrupt or can be influenced. Given the two scenarios, a betting syndicate will surely prefer a local to an expatriate, all things equal. This does not mean the expat will not eat Nando's.

Events extrapolated to an extent that Saintfeit's stay in that country was deemed illegal hence he had to be deported. That was in line with the nation's immigration laws that state that he had to be outside the country while his papers are being sorted out. The work-permit is not guaranteed. Given the circumstances preceding his appointment, success will be a miracle, at least before Sunday's Cape Verde fixture in Harare. Perhaps, that will be enough for the parties that may desire to see the local coach in charge. There has been a few cases of expat coaches being fast-tracked to get on with their jobs and I am not sure if their cases were as pressing as this one.

That said, the Technical Committee in charge of Competitions and National Teams must be recommended to act above-board. In terms of coaching qualifications, Norman Mapeza struggled with the CAF C License course, but he had been at the helm of the Warriors. His co-assistant, Madinda Ndlovu was elevated to take over as the Warriors coach until Saintfeit papers are issued, if the application for his work-permit is successful. This pushes back any doubts of whether the deportation of Saintfeit was to benefit Mapeza. As it turns out, Mapeza is still playing second fiddle. It now remains to be seen how much support and input Madinda will have to do a better job.

As it is, Ndlovu will draw comparison with Mapeza, and anyone who knows Ndlovu will tell you he does not any bull from anyone. If he does well, there will still be a battle of who is the blue-eyed one. Mapeza did a respectable job with the Warriors in the last match in a 1-1 draw in Liberia. If Madinda wins and being more qualified and more experienced, will have a nod ahead of Mapeza for whatever contest anyone will want to place between the two. As far as I can see, there is no problem now and in the future between these professional men.

Tom Saintfeit's case does not help him as he had romped someone with links of the Far East's betting syndicates. The reports from The Chronicle stated that he had brought in a CAF/FIFA Goalkeeping specialist who had done time for corrupt deals in Singapore.  German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was deported back to his native country.  Maybe this particular leopard had changed it spots, I can not say. Tom may not have known that his friend was an ex-con with a lapsed FIFA ban. What would have FIFA said if Warriors goalkeepers were terribly off-form?

And to those who actually assume the deportation of the substantive coach was supposed to benefit Mapeza as an individual may be right, and if they are, and now that it didnt', does that mean the forces at work will feel heartbroken to derail the whole train just because it is not Mapeza in charge, or will sanity prevail that at least there is a cool head of an independent opinion who should have been there a long while before now? What do you think?

The 'Truth' About Tom Saintfeit Saga: I Fear Warriors Sabotage.

A divided house shall not stand, so does the Bible say and that fact is divine. Tom Saintfeit had a cool job in Namibia and parted ways with them after signing a cooler contract with the Zimbabwe national association, albeit amid in-fighting concerning his suitability. Like many of us who are not fans of foreign coaches who have come into the continent since World War 11 to impart their expertise to African coaches so that Africa can be self-sufficient-cum-reliant, the feeling that the trend will end 24 hours before the end times makes it a bitter pill to swallow.

Finally, he was appointed and is with us until yet another controvential expat signs another contract, again to impart his knowledge to local coaches. That having been a potential moral version of the excuse not to appoint the Belgian, we need to get closer to the truth. The actual truth is lethal, so we will scurry wide and long  in the periphery. For Saintfeit, Namibia is a better footballing nation. That is also the opinion of FIFA statistics mechanism that provide the ranking. That is one motivation for Tom to cross the floor. Everybody knows that when it comes to football, even my Bafana Bafana rank below the Warriors. They have been COSAFA Champions umpteenth times.

The Far East betting syndicates have been biting deep into the Southern African nation football, injecting toxic cash that has addicted a few fellows in Zimbabwe. The issue set in the rot that saw a few football officers, players and journalists being questioned by the football authorities. The Far East money has no doubt been sweet, and may have had strings attached. This would be why the bone of contention over the coach's appointment may have lied. The problem with this assumption is that it would imply that local coaches are either corrupt or can be influenced. Given the two scenarios, a betting syndicate will surely prefer a local to an expatriate, all things equal. This does not mean the expat will not eat Nando's.

Events extrapolated to an extent that Saintfeit's stay in that country was deemed illegal hence he had to be deported. That was in line with the nation's immigration laws that state that he had to be outside the country while his papers are being sorted out. The work-permit is not guaranteed. Given the circumstances preceding his appointment, success will be a miracle, at least before Sunday's Cape Verde fixture in Harare. Perhaps, that will be enough for the parties that may desire to see the local coach in charge. There has been a few cases of expat coaches being fast-tracked to get on with their jobs and I am not sure if their cases were as pressing as this one.

That said, the Technical Committee in charge of Competitions and National Teams must be recommended to act above-board. In terms of coaching qualifications, Norman Mapeza struggled with the CAF C License course, but he had been at the helm of the Warriors. His co-assistant, Madinda Ndlovu was elevated to take over as the Warriors coach until Saintfeit papers are issued, if the application for his work-permit is successful. This pushes back any doubts of whether the deportation of Saintfeit was to benefit Mapeza. As it turns out, Mapeza is still playing second fiddle. It now remains to be seen how much support and input Madinda will have to do a better job.

As it is, Ndlovu will draw comparison with Mapeza, and anyone who knows Ndlovu will tell you he does not any bull from anyone. If he does well, there will still be a battle of who is the blue-eyed one. Mapeza did a respectable job with the Warriors in the last match in a 1-1 draw in Liberia. If Madinda wins and being more qualified and more experienced, will have a nod ahead of Mapeza for whatever contest anyone will want to place between the two. As far as I can see, there is no problem now and in the future between these professional men.

Tom Saintfeit's case does not help him as he had romped someone with links of the Far East's betting syndicates. The reports from The Chronicle stated that he had brought in a CAF/FIFA Goalkeeping specialist who had done time for corrupt deals in Singapore.  German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was deported back to his native country.  Maybe this particular leopard had changed it spots, I can not say. Tom may not have known that his friend was an ex-con with a lapsed FIFA ban. What would have FIFA said if Warriors goalkeepers were terribly off-form?

And to those who actually assume the deportation of the substantive coach was supposed to benefit Mapeza as an individual may be right, and if they are, and now that it didnt', does that mean the forces at work will feel heartbroken to derail the whole train just because it is not Mapeza in charge, or will sanity prevail that at least there is a cool head of an independent opinion who should have been there a long while before now? What do you think?

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Madinda Ndlovu Is Zimbabwe Warriors Coach.

(Origially by Sports Reporters of The Chronicle titled Madinda takes charge of Warriors)

MADINDA “Khathazile” Ndlovu was yesterday announced as acting head coach of the Warriors who face Cape Verde in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Zifa board member responsible for national teams, Benedict Moyo, confirmed that Ndlovu had been given the assignment to run the show with the aid of Norman Mapeza.

Moyo made the announcement following the departure of Tom Saintfiet to South Africa after he had been served with deportation papers on Tuesday ending his two-week stay in the country on a sour note.
The Department of Immigration asked Saintfiet to leave the country while they processed his papers for a work permit.

In an interview last night Moyo claimed that the announcement was met with a thumbs up from the players. He said the Warriors called for Zifa to be supportive in their build-up to Sunday’s match.
“The announcement was made before the first session today. So far so good, the morale and response to the news that Madinda would be in charge with Mapeza assisting him was welcomed by the players. The players called on Zifa to reciprocate their positive attitude towards everything to do with the camp and Sunday’s game,”said Moyo.

Moyo said it was heartening to note that players wanted to get on with their business of playing football.
Cape Verde arrive in the country tomorrow. Ndlovu had a good career at Highlanders, Zimbabwe Under-20, Under-23 and the senior national team. He single-handedly built the Highlanders brand before the emergence of Willard Khumalo, Mpumelelo Dzowa, Alexander Maseko, Tanny Banda, the late Mercedes Sibanda, Tito Paketh, the late David Phiri and Tutani Moyo in Bosso colours in the mid 1980s. He was unlucky not to be allowed by his club to move to the English First Division in 1985, where he would have joined Bruce Grobbelaar and made history for his club and country as the first black player to make the grade at that level.

Meanwhile, German national Lutz Pfannestiel, who served a five-month jail term in Singapore and had a one-year worldwide ban from all football activities imposed by Fifa for match-fixing, was yesterday deported back to his native country.
Pfannestiel was asked by Zifa, following recommendations by Tom Saintfiet, to come and assist the Warriors’ goalkeepers’ coaches. He is a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ coaching specialist and was due to conduct a coaching clinic for goalkeepers’ coaches in the country.

Zifa yesterday said he was not on their payroll.
“It is not true that we secretly hired the German national. He was here to assist us as a Caf and Fifa goalkeepers’ training specialist. Yes, he did save time but he has an Interpol clearance letter,” said Benedict Moyo, the Zifa board member responsible for competitions and national teams.

Moyo said following the realisation by the Zifa technical committee, which comprises of chairman Kenny Marange, Moyo, Methembe Ndlovu, Gift Banda, Solomon Mugavazi and Patrick Hokonya, that the country was lacking in the goalkeeping area, it was agreed to accept Saintfiet’s request to bring the German national on board for the Cape Verde game.

However the Department of IL,mmigration served Pfannestiel, who is reported to have been armed with an Interpol clearance letter, with thedeportation letter yesterday morning. He boarded a South African Airways plane at 1230hrs.
"Our laws do not allow convicts to enter our country. If one committed a crime anywhere in the world and whether you have a clearance letter or not, you are considered an illegal immigrant hence our reason to deport Pfannestiel," Evans Siziba, the assistant chief immigration officer said in an interview yesterday.

Asked how the 37-year-old managed to slip into the country Siziba said they had not picked it that the he was a convicted criminal.
This adds another dilemma to the national team saga, which saw Warriors coach and Belgian national Saintfiet also being deported on Tuesday for working in the country without a work permit.
The country's laws require that a work permit be applied for while the applicant is still outside the country and the process can take up to six weeks, unless there is a directive from the Minister of Home Affairs to the Department of Immigration to waiver certain requirements.

Fathi Finally Bids Farewell To Highlanders FC.

[caption id="attachment_2250" align="alignleft" width="630" caption="Mohammed Fathi - Had Enough and Going home."][/caption]Mohammed Fathi has left Highlanders Bosso in a cloud of mystery, given the revelations that he gave a month's notice. While the Bosso family were unhappy with the Egyptian mentor, Fathi was also unhappy with the material and resources at his disposal. 

Fathi is said to have expressed an issue of salary payment defection by the club as the main reason. Like predecessor Madinda Ndlovu, it is believed to be owed thousands of dollars in salary arrears. However, the clear message from the ground is that, while the Executive Committee expected results from Fathi, the players are not near championship quality. They are demotivated by nonpayment of salaries and winning bonuses as has been evidenced by the now familiar industrial actions. 

There is yet another school of thought that the players have the potential and that there may be issues within the team that the public is unaware of. One source close to the team has question the possibility of a coach serving notice and even then, the club does not bother to line-up his replacement. Mkhuphali Masuku, his assistant, is likely to take charge of the rocked boat. 

Masuku will have to deal with the same hungry players to produce the results. It still remains to be seen if any improvements in terms of player welfare and acquisition will be possible. This question of a possible operation in a vacuum will scare any potential candidates to take the job full-time. Coaches who are worth their salt have to be paid, and well. A salary of $5000,00 is very average and with no fans going to watch home matches and no sponsorship for both the league and the team, that may be gold for Bosso to find. 

Mkhuphali or the new coach has to deal with Dynamos again in less that 4 weeks in the final of the ZAOGA Jubilee Celebrations Cup. The match was likely to be played at the now banned BF. It is a tall order for anyone to play a well oiled Dembare that blasted reigning league champions 4-1. 

So whoever comes must expect more or less to be paid haphazardly and be grateful for whatever comes. Fans will have to expect the result to trickle in the same way and stop the nonsensical violent behaviour at the stadia. The alternative is a fly by night coach who will walk in to work for peanuts and ride some luck to win all the remaining matches and the team wins the championship. This will attract the people to the stadium and the gate-takings will boost the coffers for a team to hire another dear expatriate coach. 

It is not that there is anything wrong with foreign coaches. I like them, especially Africans. If they were bad, the national teams would have stopped recruiting them. They are fashionable and are cool, especially when they speak English with a heavy accent. It keeps players listening to the funny parts of the words. Usually players do not get the message or instructions. 

Black Mambas Director of Coaching, Madinda Ndlovu is a disappointed man with these developments. His worry is the way coaches do not get things to work with and end up taking the walk. Ndlovu feels the sacrifice the coaches take should be taken into account and all the help and support must be afforded them to work more professionally. Asked about the players, he was adamant the junior football structures must be revisited and player development start in earnest. 

Ndlovu, now also national assistant coach of Zimbabwe Warriors, Tom Saintfeit, mourned the loss of proper structures nationally but was particular about the material Bosso should be creating for themselves as was the case yesteryear. What do you think Bosso need now and who should be appointed coach?

Fathi Finally Bids Farewell To Highlanders FC.

[caption id="attachment_2250" align="alignleft" width="630" caption="Mohammed Fathi - Had Enough and Going home."][/caption]Mohammed Fathi has left Highlanders Bosso in a cloud of mystery, given the revelations that he gave a month's notice. While the Bosso family were unhappy with the Egyptian mentor, Fathi was also unhappy with the material and resources at his disposal. 

Fathi is said to have expressed an issue of salary payment defection by the club as the main reason. Like predecessor Madinda Ndlovu, it is believed to be owed thousands of dollars in salary arrears. However, the clear message from the ground is that, while the Executive Committee expected results from Fathi, the players are not near championship quality. They are demotivated by nonpayment of salaries and winning bonuses as has been evidenced by the now familiar industrial actions. 

There is yet another school of thought that the players have the potential and that there may be issues within the team that the public is unaware of. One source close to the team has question the possibility of a coach serving notice and even then, the club does not bother to line-up his replacement. Mkhuphali Masuku, his assistant, is likely to take charge of the rocked boat. 

Masuku will have to deal with the same hungry players to produce the results. It still remains to be seen if any improvements in terms of player welfare and acquisition will be possible. This question of a possible operation in a vacuum will scare any potential candidates to take the job full-time. Coaches who are worth their salt have to be paid, and well. A salary of $5000,00 is very average and with no fans going to watch home matches and no sponsorship for both the league and the team, that may be gold for Bosso to find. 

Mkhuphali or the new coach has to deal with Dynamos again in less that 4 weeks in the final of the ZAOGA Jubilee Celebrations Cup. The match was likely to be played at the now banned BF. It is a tall order for anyone to play a well oiled Dembare that blasted reigning league champions 4-1. 

So whoever comes must expect more or less to be paid haphazardly and be grateful for whatever comes. Fans will have to expect the result to trickle in the same way and stop the nonsensical violent behaviour at the stadia. The alternative is a fly by night coach who will walk in to work for peanuts and ride some luck to win all the remaining matches and the team wins the championship. This will attract the people to the stadium and the gate-takings will boost the coffers for a team to hire another dear expatriate coach. 

It is not that there is anything wrong with foreign coaches. I like them, especially Africans. If they were bad, the national teams would have stopped recruiting them. They are fashionable and are cool, especially when they speak English with a heavy accent. It keeps players listening to the funny parts of the words. Usually players do not get the message or instructions. 

Black Mambas Director of Coaching, Madinda Ndlovu is a disappointed man with these developments. His worry is the way coaches do not get things to work with and end up taking the walk. Ndlovu feels the sacrifice the coaches take should be taken into account and all the help and support must be afforded them to work more professionally. Asked about the players, he was adamant the junior football structures must be revisited and player development start in earnest. 

Ndlovu, now also national assistant coach of Zimbabwe Warriors, Tom Saintfeit, mourned the loss of proper structures nationally but was particular about the material Bosso should be creating for themselves as was the case yesteryear. What do you think Bosso need now and who should be appointed coach?

Fathi Finally Bids Farewell To Highlanders FC.

[caption id="attachment_2250" align="alignleft" width="630" caption="Mohammed Fathi - Had Enough and Going home."][/caption]Mohammed Fathi has left Highlanders Bosso in a cloud of mystery, given the revelations that he gave a month's notice. While the Bosso family were unhappy with the Egyptian mentor, Fathi was also unhappy with the material and resources at his disposal. 

Fathi is said to have expressed an issue of salary payment defection by the club as the main reason. Like predecessor Madinda Ndlovu, it is believed to be owed thousands of dollars in salary arrears. However, the clear message from the ground is that, while the Executive Committee expected results from Fathi, the players are not near championship quality. They are demotivated by nonpayment of salaries and winning bonuses as has been evidenced by the now familiar industrial actions. 

There is yet another school of thought that the players have the potential and that there may be issues within the team that the public is unaware of. One source close to the team has question the possibility of a coach serving notice and even then, the club does not bother to line-up his replacement. Mkhuphali Masuku, his assistant, is likely to take charge of the rocked boat. 

Masuku will have to deal with the same hungry players to produce the results. It still remains to be seen if any improvements in terms of player welfare and acquisition will be possible. This question of a possible operation in a vacuum will scare any potential candidates to take the job full-time. Coaches who are worth their salt have to be paid, and well. A salary of $5000,00 is very average and with no fans going to watch home matches and no sponsorship for both the league and the team, that may be gold for Bosso to find. 

Mkhuphali or the new coach has to deal with Dynamos again in less that 4 weeks in the final of the ZAOGA Jubilee Celebrations Cup. The match was likely to be played at the now banned BF. It is a tall order for anyone to play a well oiled Dembare that blasted reigning league champions 4-1. 

So whoever comes must expect more or less to be paid haphazardly and be grateful for whatever comes. Fans will have to expect the result to trickle in the same way and stop the nonsensical violent behaviour at the stadia. The alternative is a fly by night coach who will walk in to work for peanuts and ride some luck to win all the remaining matches and the team wins the championship. This will attract the people to the stadium and the gate-takings will boost the coffers for a team to hire another dear expatriate coach. 

It is not that there is anything wrong with foreign coaches. I like them, especially Africans. If they were bad, the national teams would have stopped recruiting them. They are fashionable and are cool, especially when they speak English with a heavy accent. It keeps players listening to the funny parts of the words. Usually players do not get the message or instructions. 

Black Mambas Director of Coaching, Madinda Ndlovu is a disappointed man with these developments. His worry is the way coaches do not get things to work with and end up taking the walk. Ndlovu feels the sacrifice the coaches take should be taken into account and all the help and support must be afforded them to work more professionally. Asked about the players, he was adamant the junior football structures must be revisited and player development start in earnest. 

Ndlovu, now also national assistant coach of Zimbabwe Warriors, Tom Saintfeit, mourned the loss of proper structures nationally but was particular about the material Bosso should be creating for themselves as was the case yesteryear. What do you think Bosso need now and who should be appointed coach?

Fathi Finally Bids Farewell To Highlanders FC.

[caption id="attachment_2250" align="alignleft" width="630" caption="Mohammed Fathi - Had Enough and Going home."][/caption]Mohammed Fathi has left Highlanders Bosso in a cloud of mystery, given the revelations that he gave a month's notice. While the Bosso family were unhappy with the Egyptian mentor, Fathi was also unhappy with the material and resources at his disposal. 

Fathi is said to have expressed an issue of salary payment defection by the club as the main reason. Like predecessor Madinda Ndlovu, it is believed to be owed thousands of dollars in salary arrears. However, the clear message from the ground is that, while the Executive Committee expected results from Fathi, the players are not near championship quality. They are demotivated by nonpayment of salaries and winning bonuses as has been evidenced by the now familiar industrial actions. 

There is yet another school of thought that the players have the potential and that there may be issues within the team that the public is unaware of. One source close to the team has question the possibility of a coach serving notice and even then, the club does not bother to line-up his replacement. Mkhuphali Masuku, his assistant, is likely to take charge of the rocked boat. 

Masuku will have to deal with the same hungry players to produce the results. It still remains to be seen if any improvements in terms of player welfare and acquisition will be possible. This question of a possible operation in a vacuum will scare any potential candidates to take the job full-time. Coaches who are worth their salt have to be paid, and well. A salary of $5000,00 is very average and with no fans going to watch home matches and no sponsorship for both the league and the team, that may be gold for Bosso to find. 

Mkhuphali or the new coach has to deal with Dynamos again in less that 4 weeks in the final of the ZAOGA Jubilee Celebrations Cup. The match was likely to be played at the now banned BF. It is a tall order for anyone to play a well oiled Dembare that blasted reigning league champions 4-1. 

So whoever comes must expect more or less to be paid haphazardly and be grateful for whatever comes. Fans will have to expect the result to trickle in the same way and stop the nonsensical violent behaviour at the stadia. The alternative is a fly by night coach who will walk in to work for peanuts and ride some luck to win all the remaining matches and the team wins the championship. This will attract the people to the stadium and the gate-takings will boost the coffers for a team to hire another dear expatriate coach. 

It is not that there is anything wrong with foreign coaches. I like them, especially Africans. If they were bad, the national teams would have stopped recruiting them. They are fashionable and are cool, especially when they speak English with a heavy accent. It keeps players listening to the funny parts of the words. Usually players do not get the message or instructions. 

Black Mambas Director of Coaching, Madinda Ndlovu is a disappointed man with these developments. His worry is the way coaches do not get things to work with and end up taking the walk. Ndlovu feels the sacrifice the coaches take should be taken into account and all the help and support must be afforded them to work more professionally. Asked about the players, he was adamant the junior football structures must be revisited and player development start in earnest. 

Ndlovu, now also national assistant coach of Zimbabwe Warriors, Tom Saintfeit, mourned the loss of proper structures nationally but was particular about the material Bosso should be creating for themselves as was the case yesteryear. What do you think Bosso need now and who should be appointed coach?

Rahman Gumbo and Willard Khumalo In Trouble?

Rahman Gumbo's Mochudi Centre Chiefs started the Be MOBILE Premier League in Botswana like a house on fire, scoring 12 goals in 2 matches. That wonderful run must have  drowned in complacency as evidenced by a shock 2-0 loss to Extension Gunners 2 weeks ago.

This was then followed by a 1-0 humiliating by struggling TAFIC at the Francistown Stadium, agitating Chiefs' supporters to uneasiness as they began to worry about their dominance being a thing of the past before it even began. Matters were not helped by the progress of their nearest rivals who were picking up points. ECCO City Greens, Township Rollers and Gaborone United suddenly found their voices and are giving Rush a run for his money.

However, Chiefs lost a key man to the ABSA Premier League debutants, Vasco da Gama of Cape Town. The  services of talented midfielder Dirang Moloi will take time to be filled despite the hard work Gumbo is putting into the team. Mochudi Centre Chiefs bounced back this week to register a 2-0 win over visiting Nico United at the University of Botswana (UB) Stadium.

Nico United, formerly coached by Madinda Ndlovu, are in dire need of form to pick up points themselves. Willard Mashinkila Khumalo's team, have seen their efforts rewarded here and there and their thin squad is now desperate to pick up essential points. Khumalo believes they got a valuable lesson in this fixture and are ready for the weekend. 

It was lamentable for Khumalo that the team conceded an injury time goal in the first half. The goals came courtesy of Lesego Galenamotlhale with virtually the last kick of the half. The second half saw Nico fluff easy chances. The inability to be clinical in front of goal saw Moemedi Moatlhaping seal the deal with 20 minutes of play remaining. While the expectations are too high from both camps, Gumbo and Khumalo are great visionaries who will undoubtedly steady their ships with time.

Meanwhile, the rise and rise of Botswana's Zebras is the talk and pride of Africa and FIFA. The Zebras clobbered Tunisia and Togo as well as playing to a draw with Malawi in the AFCON 2012 qualifiers. They beat Zimbabwe Warriors in a friendly match as well. Despite all that ground covered, the coach's head is on the block. Like all Africa administrators, that success is itching that they bring an expatriate coach form Europe to teach the Tswanas how to play football. Previous coaches from abroad only managed to milk Botswana of Pulas and nothing else, as they have done in South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe.

You will remember that South Africa tasted AFCON success with a local coach. Zimbabwe qualified for the same tournament twice with local coaches. Foreign coaches failed to take these nations near to those glory days, yet the national associations are adamant in labelling that success as better than failure. They always bring in these coaches from abroad so that African coaches can learn. I think I am the mad one here. 

Do you suppose it is fair to criticise coaches after just 5 matches?