The Sunday News
THE subsequent departure of coach Kelvin Kaindu seems to have divided the Highlanders family amid reports that opinion was divided on whether the Zambian gaffer should have been allowed to leave his post.
At the oldest football institution in the country a popular slogan goes: “At Highlanders we are one”, but on the contrary Kaindu’s resignation appears to have, instead, divided the club. Some within the club feel the Zambian coach had done his best, and was being sabotaged by a hidden hand that was using other members of the technical team and players. Others feel that Kaindu had simply run out of steam and had to leave.
After losing 1-3 to title contenders, ZPC Kariba at Hartsfield Rugby Ground, a fortnight ago fans pelted the players and members of the technical team with stones leading to Kaindu’s decision to call it quits.
However, the jury is still out on who is responsible for the club’s poor results with Kaindu’s backers accusing the stone throwers of having been hired by his (Kaindu)’s detractors, sabotage by players and some members of the technical team. Others felt that the expatriate failed in his bid to bring the title to Bulawayo saying that the decision of his throwing in the towel was a welcome and timely decision.
An avid Bosso fan, Duduzo “TK” Sibanda said Kaindu’s departure did not solve anything, adding it might actually turn worse for the club.
He said players’ loyalties seemed to be divided between Kaindu, his assistant Mark Mathe, welfare manager, Willard Khumalo and the executive.
“I think the executive should have asked the rest of the technical department to go with Kaindu because right now players who loved him (Kaindu) will not perform to the best of their ability just to spite Mathe.
“Kaindu should have just been left to finish the season and then we plot a way forward then. I feel there are camps within Highlanders then they are responsible for all these problems as they are dividing the team. “Why should we have camps in Highlanders? All we need is unity,” said Sibanda, adding to claims that selecting an assistant for Kaindu was another mistake that led to disharmony within the technical bench.
He said he also believed there was juju at play that is being used to block Highlanders’ success.
“The executive should sit down with the board and look at this issue critically because we just seem to be failing when we have all the resources at hand,” said Sibanda.
He said Bosso should forget about landing the league title this season.
Another Bosso member, Faith Dube said some people were blinded by Kaindu’s fantastic personality but success in football will always be a direct function of the titles and cups that one land.
“Failure to register a victory against Dynamos during his three year stay could also have contributed to his exit at Highlanders. I think the person who is in a fix, particularly from critics is Mark Mathe. If he wins on Sunday (today), some may jump and say look, he was sabotaging Kelvin Kaindu together with the players and when he loses, some critics also might jump and say, look, Kaindu was not the real problem.
“However, people should be above the personalities and look at the bigger interest which is Highlanders. Ngeke yafa because of an individual or cohort of them,” he said.
South African-based Bosso fan, Nodumo Nyathi was of a different opinion saying it was shocking that some people had the gall to blame the executive yet the coach was given almost 90 percent of what he had requested with players paid timeously.
“The coach must be responsible for his results and the executive for any administration issues. We simply need results,” said Nyathi.
Highlanders’ member, Leeroy Maplanka concurred with Sibanda adding all members of the technical bench should have resigned.
He blamed the players for the team’s poor form adding Kaindu was a good coach who should not have been allowed to leave.
“I believe Kaindu did everything right but it was the footballers who were not pulling up their socks. Was Kaindu supposed to get to the ground and score? The whole technical bench should have taken responsibility and left, not for only the head coach to leave,” said Maplanka.
“Kaindu was not selecting the players alone but with assistance from other members of the technical bench. They should have left with him. He (Kaindu) performed well and I do not know what barometer was being used to say that he has failed. He broke records with the team when we had mediocre players.”
Maplanka said he believed had Kaindu been retained he would have managed a top two finish although he felt the players’ performances would have let the head coach down.
However, Tsholotsho-based Highlanders member, Vusumuzi Ndlovu said what was critical was the result and nothing more, adding that if KK failed to bring the results then it was proper for him to leave.
“There will always be a scapegoat but the truth is there are divisions at every workplace and leaders are the ones who should eliminate them. As head coach, Kaindu should have ensured the team wins at all cost but he failed. Coaches are measured by how many titles they accumulate and the results only,” he said.
Vincent Nhlansi said those talking about KK being sabotaged should bring the evidence or shut up.
“KK simply failed to get the right combination the whole season, look at Khumbulani Banda for instance, he’s a gem at Maritzburg United but he was never given a chance by KK. Simon Munawa was played out of position and eventually dumped out of the starting eleven while we all know what he can do in the middle of the park,’’ said Nhlansi, adding:
“KK also doesn’t read the game and he fails to change his approach when losing. Did we have any comeback recently? NO! It shows he can’t turn things around. How many times have we seen Dynamos turning defeats into a win? We didn’t have that aggressive approach. Basically, his cycle had just come to an end.”
Patrick Ndlovu said it was clear that Kaindu could no longer take the club forward with glaring tactical weaknesses which saw Bosso failing to beat any PSL team twice.
“I also think the environment was no longer conducive with factionalism seemingly at play. The biggest problem at Bosso is the elections, they are so divisive and any chairman is always out to destroy what the previous one would have done or achieved,’’ said Ndlovu.
“It seems as if once a chairman leaves office he becomes his successor’s enemy and as a form of revenge the predecessor’s efforts are undermined. For example, (Ernest Sibanda) Maphepha’s five year strategic plan was discarded by his successor, Ndlela who also had his idea of an academy thrashed by this current executive led by Peter Dube.
“The solution is that the Board must be the custodians of the club’s vision. Any chairman has to fit in to the policy frameworks of the board. If a chairman has set up something the board shouldn’t allow his successor to discard it. What we need is a vibrant board otherwise we will be resetting our vision every three years when a new chairman comes on board.”
Imon Ncube blamed indiscipline which had crept in amid allegations that players were indulging in drugs and abusing alcohol, while Kaindu should have been allowed to finish off the season.
He said Kaindu should also have come out in the open and stated what was affecting the team or say if he felt there was sabotage.
Ncube said Kaindu’s technical shortcomings were exposed when his second half signings failed to come to the party while he let go of two right backs, which he failed to replace.
“I do not think we can win the league unless there is a miracle or the players were sabotaging Kaindu. I don’t expect much to change in the team’s performance,” he said.
