The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
FORMER Bulawayo City acting coach Try Ncube has been watching his team in action from the terraces since he does not hold the requisite qualifications to sit on the bench as demanded by the Zimbabwe Football Association.
Ncube is a holder of a Confederation of African Football B Coaching Licence which he obtained at the beginning of this year having attended the course in November last year. But Zifa directed that all head coaches and their assistants in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League must be holders of Caf A.
Last Saturday, Ncube was spotted on the terraces when Bulawayo City took on FC Platinum at Barbourfields Stadium. He only joined the rest of the team when the match ended in what has been his routine since the start of the season. Amakhosi acting chief executive officer McKenzie Moyo said Ncube has not been reduced in importance but they were following the Zifa instruction and since the coach does not hold a Caf A licence, he cannot be on the bench.
“It’s not a demotion, we are following the Zifa directive, he can work with the rest of the team but he cannot sit on the bench, we have to oblige with what Zifa has said. Barry Daka is the first assistant coach, we are abiding by dictates from Zifa,’’ Moyo said.
The acting most senior member of the Bulawayo City secretariat pointed out that with many structures at the club, they were still to decide where to redeploy Ncube since he is still contracted to the club until the end of next year.
“We have so many structures within the club, the executive will reconsider where to redeploy him. He can assist during training sessions but he cannot sit on the bench. He still remains our employee, currently we are utilising him, it’s not easy to work with somebody then discard them just like that,’’ Moyo said.
The 43-year-old Ncube joined Bulawayo City on a three-year contract at the beginning of last year as an assistant to Philani “Beefy” Ncube. When the head coach and first assistant, Farai Mujokoro were suspended in the wake of match fixing allegations, Ncube was appointed interim technical boss until the end of the season.
He led Amakhosi to an eighth place finish in their maiden season in the PSL. National Under-20 mentor Mandla “Lulu” Mpofu took over as head coach in March.
Ncube was one of the coaches affected by the Zifa directive on qualifications with the others being Mkhuphali Masuku and Taku Shariwa. Masuku had been appointed as head coach of Harare City while Shariwa was meant to be in charge of Shabanie Mine but the two clubs were forced to appoint those with the necessary qualifications.
Sources close to Ncube said the coach is eager to attend the next Caf A intake as he has never failed a coaching course before and is confident of nailing it in order to be allowed to coach in the PSL.
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