The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere – Sports Reporter
UKAINDU. . . uKaindu Wayangaphi?
Mvumeleni aphenduke
(Kaindu, Kaindu, where did he go?
(Please, allow him back)
These are lyrics to one of the most popular songs at Highlanders matches this season as supporters make known their longing for Kelvin Kaindu.
The Zambian coach was hounded out of Bosso and replaced by then assistant Mark Mathe before a hitherto unknown Bongani Mafu took over at the beginning of this season.
Kaindu has since relocated to Triangle where his men are second on the standings, compared to Bosso who are eighth and five points behind his team.
The Zambian initially charmed the Bosso fans, but his failure to break the Dynamos jinx ultimately cost him his job.
Not once, not twice, but six times did Kaindu fail to beat Dynamos
However, as Highlanders prepare to take on bitter rivals Dynamos at Rufaro this afternoon, questions continue to linger on the rationale behind axing Kaindu and replacing him with Mafu.
A section of the Bosso fans believes Mafu lacks the technical stamina needed to end their nine-year wait for a league crown.
In 2011 Kaindu inherited a team that had finished seventh, a distant 15 points behind eventual winners Dynamos and led them to second in the subsequent two seasons.
In both seasons, he lost the title to Kallisto Pasuwa’s Dynamos on goal difference.
Mafu’s start to life in the post-Kaindu era has been less impressive.
His return of 19 points from 13 matches does not make good reading.
Bosso chief executive Ndumiso Gumede admits Mafu has not done as well as they expected, but is quick to insist the Kaindu chapter is closed.
“In terms of wishes, we are not where we wanted to be,” said Gumede.
“Supporters might sing that they want Kaindu back; it’s normal in football when the team loses because when we win they sing praise songs as well.
“But at the same time we reiterate that we don’t want disruptive behaviour. We don’t want people who disrespect the coach and are hopeful things will improve. Soon we will start climbing up the log, and then challenge for the title next season.”
Gumede maintains Mafu’s brief was to build a team for next season.
But how does that read on the back of the one year contract the coach was handed?
“That (one year contract) doesn’t matter. He knows he is preparing for next season despite the one year contract you mention. We have an agreement with him to that effect which is outside the contract,” explained Gumede.
Kaindu, who needed a lot of convincing to talk about Highlanders, admitted he has heard of the love coming from Barbourfields.
“I have heard about them singing about me, but I think the best people to tell you why you are hearing such a song are the people who composed it and maybe Highlanders, not me,” Kaindu said.
“But it comes as a surprise a bit in that probably they are the same people who thought that the team was not doing well yet we were four or five points behind the log leaders.
“It then comes back to the point that having amassed the same number of points as the champions in our first two seasons, people expected us to march straight to the winners’ podium with ease,” he said.
