The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
BANTU Rovers FC have parted ways with assistant coach, Joseph Sibindi who had been standing in for head coach, Methembe Ndlovu.
The Premiership returnees roped in Sibindi in April when it became clear that head coach Ndlovu would be travelling to the United States on business for prolonged periods.
Bantu struggled to secure a coach after being promoted to the top flight after Zifa effected new regulations that barred mentors that do not hold the highest qualification in the country, Caf A from heading PSL teams.
The team was last year led to the Southern Region Division One title by Johannes Ngodzo. They finally settled for Ndlovu, who is also the club president, but the issue of an assistant, who also has to have the Caf A badge came up.
Although the side seemed to prefer Agent Sawu, the former Warriors striker does not hold the requisite qualifications. Sibindi was reportedly relieved of his duties following the assignment against Bulawayo City last Sunday, where the side collected a point in the tightly contested match. The Nust sports science lecturer confirmed parting ways with Bantu saying it was through mutual agreement.
Bantu are perched second from bottom with only two wins and three draws from 17 matches. Despite having scored the highest number of goals in a single match, seven they fired past Yadah, Tshintsha Guluva have also conceded 37 times for a goal difference of minus 19.
“For me it was a matter of principle, I had my own principles and they had their own, unfortunately the two clashed and neither was willing to compromise. Bantu are a professional club and they have set systems in place that are driven by certain principles and I believe they could not bend them to accommodate my own which were different,” said Sibindi without elaborating.
However, Bantu Rovers chief executive officer, Wilbert Sibanda denied Sibindi is no longer with the club, saying he is still part of them.
“He (Sibindi) has not resigned so I can’t confirm that he is no longer with us until I receive his resignation letter,” he said.
Sibindi holds a Caf A Licence, Scottish C Licence and is a Phd candidate in sports science at the University of Johannesburg.
