The Sunday News
Noel Munzabwa
SUSPENDED Bulawayo City coach Philani “Beefy” Ncube is a wanted man in Swazi football circles with at least two clubs reportedly pursuing ways to meet his salary peg.
Ailing Moneni Pirates headline the interest in engaging him as head coach in a bid to end their lackluster streak to the new season which entered Week Seven yesterday while Manzini Sundowns have shortlisted him for an assistant coach’s position.
There are indications that Sundowns coach Godfrey Tamirepi requested club authorities to recruit an assistant coach who will help him run a cross-sectional approach to a coaching programme for a soccer academy like structure.
His Swazi-based handler Dingani Maduna, confirmed receiving Beefy’s “colourful curriculum vitae” and sharing it with clubs in the country with a positive response.
Sources within football circles say the stumbling block has been the asking salary equivalent to E15 000 ($1 000) which the clubs are pursuing the means of meeting before engaging the Zimbabwean mentor who started his coaching career at the ambitious but now defunct Piggott Maskew in 2004.
Contacted last Friday, Ncube confirmed receiving correspondence from Swaziland clubs.
“Yes, I have been contacted by someone in Swaziland with such offers but as you may know I am still contracted to Bulawayo City and yet to be cleared of the allegations. It will be premature to entertain any offers,” said Ncube.
The 2008 Coach of the Year is understood to be contracted at City until the end of 2018.
Also emerging among candidates is Mandla Mpofu.
@NoelMunzabwa
