The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
FORMER Highlanders captain, Felix Chindungwe will not be heading for the dugout when his playing career ends as he feels the coaching seat is too hot.
Chindungwe’s contract was not renewed at Highlanders last year forcing him to seek another team in the Premiership and he found home at perennial strugglers, Tsholotsho. The former Chicken Inn anchorman and defender said he had commenced Diesel Maintenance studies before getting into football full-time and he would pursue that career when he hangs his boots.
Chindungwe (34) revealed he had already planned to go back to class this year but friends persuaded him to stay in the game.
“I wanted to leave football this year and go back to class following the expiry of my contract with Highlanders but some friends said I should stick it out. I decided to give it another year and see how it goes,” he said.
The 2012 soccer star finalist said he anticipated his contract would not be renewed at Highlanders hence he made the decision to go back to school. He said his continued absence from the first team could have been an indicator that he was convinced it had been the right time to hang the boots.
“With football teams, I guess you have to anticipate such things because it’s the norm. It is only a matter of deciding which move to make next,” said Chindungwe, who had lost his place in the Bosso starting line up to Peter Mudhuwa last year and was confined to the bench.
He said the pressure that comes with being a coach was too much for him and he doesn’t want the nomadic lifestyle of the game to affect his family life.
He said once one becomes a coach they have to contend with being hired in places outside their home town and this has a huge effect on the time one spends with their family.
“I want to spend more time with my family and a stable job that allows me to stay in one place would afford me that opportunity. Coaching also comes with a lot of pressure, I think it is one of the most stressing jobs in the world, I decided long ago it is not my route. I may do one or two coaching courses but it won’t be because I want to pursue coaching as a career,” he said.
Chindungwe said while he signed one year with Tsholotsho, he is not yet decided on when to put the lid on his playing career adding he might continue playing next year.
He said he is hoping to play a crucial role in Tsholotsho’s campaign this season together with several veterans that have been signed by the side that has relocated to Beitbridge from Bulawayo.
He said with the likes of Nkosana Siwela, Thomas Chimenya and Canaan Nkomo in the squad they can take a leading role and provide guidance for the youngsters in the team.
“Unity plays a crucial role in the success of any team and it’s something I will try to foster at the club. I know there are several youngsters who are still trying to find their feet in the game, I will be there to offer them that advice and guidance. It is critical that we do not lose sight of the top target as players and make sure we are not distracted by small challenges that might crop as the season progresses,” added Chindungwe.
The former Shooting Stars player started his career Lo-Cilff before joining Tagarira then went to defunct Underhill before joining Shooting Stars and then moved to Chicken Inn before joining Highlanders in 2014.
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