Rahman Gumbo snubs Highlanders

Published: 2014 October 16 11:59:44 (4950 Views)

RAHMAN Gumbo, one of the most successful Zimbabwean coaches who won championship titles in three different countries on the continent has ruled out romantic flirtations with Highlanders – a team that he had led to two league titles as a coach.

Gumbo, who won league titles with Malawi's Telecom Wanderers and Township Rollers of Botswana after having lifted the Premiership crown with Highlanders twice, was largely touted and hot favourite to take over the Bulawayo outfit following the resignation of Kelvin Kaindu.

The Highlanders coaching post is one of the hot posts in domestic football which has been filled by foreigners or former players with Gumbo tipped to be on the front row to take over the reins following the departure of Zambian mentor Kelvin Kaindu.

Gumbo had emerged as the hot favourite as a top player who dazzled in Highlanders colours and understands the culture of Mantengwane. However, the former Warriors told Gemazo Blitz he has no interest of returning to Highlanders even if a carrot is dangled in his face he would not chew it.

Gumbo who was appointed technical director of Botswana top-flight side Gaborone United this year says he is happy in Botswana and is not planning to come back soon. He is on a season's contract.

"I do not know anything about Zimbabwean football at the moment and I don't want to talk about it. I am working in Botswana as I am employed by Gaborone United. I do not know why I am being linked to Highlanders yet I am committed somewhere else. There are a lot of good coaches in Zimbabwe who are capable of coaching Highlanders, at the moment I have nothing to do with Highlanders. I am just concentrating on my job here (Botswana)," Gumbo said.

Asked whether he would take up the Highlanders job if offered, Gumbo had this to say.

"I am employed by Gaborone United and I am very happy here. That is all I can say for now. Otherwise I am doing just fine in Botswana, I can't complain. It is not my first time here so I have an appreciation of what goes on here," Gumbo added.

The other local coaches being linked to the Highlanders job are Philani ‘Beefy' Ncube and Mandla Mpofu although they are considered lightweights they have a slim chance of landing the Bosso plum post.

Highlanders have been playing second fiddle to Dynamos for the past two seasons albeit on goal difference which did not go down well with some section of the Mantengwane faithful.

However, the biggest crime Kaindu perhaps committed was to fail to break the Dynamos stranglehold on Highlanders which is now in its eighth year as the Bulawayo giants have failed to collect maximum points against Dynamos in all competitions since 2006.

Kaindu is said to have first hinted about resignation after Highlanders' 3-1 drubbing at the hands of fellow title contenders ZPC Kariba which saw Bosso sliding down to the fourth place on the log standings surrendering the second place to ZPC Kariba while CAPS United settled for the third position.

The lose did not go down well with a section of Bosso fans who had thronged Hartsfield Rugby Ground which triggered ugly scenes of violence just after the match as the angry fans bade for Kaindu's blood.

The Zambian coach is said to have told his charges moments later that he was leaving however his resignation remained subject to speculation until he officially tendered his resignation early this week. Kaindu signed a mutual termination of contract with Highlanders this week and is set to walk away with $18 000 and had Bosso fired him he was going to pocket $60 000 for lost income.

Kaindu Highlanders at the start of the 2012 season and the expatriate gaffer is said to have been taking home $4 000 a month.

His salary was however being paid by BancABC as part of the sponsorship deal that was signed between the giant banking corporate and the club.

The salary of the incoming coach is however expected to be cut to between $2 000 and $ 3 000 if they appoint a local coach a figure which is likely going to put off seasoned coaches like Gumbo. At Dynamos where they have strike a similar sponsorship deal with Banc ABC, the coach Calisto Pasuwa gets $3 000 a month and the salary of the next permanent Highlanders coach is likely to hover around that figure.

- Zim Metro

Tags: RahmanGumbo, snubs, Highlanders,

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