The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
HARARE CITY coach Moses “Bambo” Chunga is not seeking to charm people into liking him or his management style. Responding to the outcry triggered by his freezing out of players like Raphael Manuvire, Temba Ndlovu and Tafadzwa Dube, the outspoken Chunga has defended the way he does his thing.
“I am not here to be loved, people are free to express their views on my style but should also appreciate the decisions I make,” he said.
Manuvire’s case is bewildering.
He was the best player at City before Chunga’s arrival but the midfielder, who was signed from ZPC Kariba, at the beginning of the season is no longer making the team.
Chunga’s men take on inconsistent How Mine in a Premier Soccer League match at Luveve this afternoon, with the coach’s decision to banish the stylish 27-year-old Manuvire a major talking point.
The City gaffer insisted he was not out to curry favour with the players.
“I came here to coach football and that is what I am doing; and on that journey some will be angry with my decisions but by the same token others will be very happy,” said Chunga, a firm believer in young talent.
“I don’t want to talk about him (Manuvire) because he is not even training with the team but some of those you are asking about are training and maybe their chance to play will come.
“You must appreciate that we have 30 registered players, so we can rotate, and I choose the best for a particular match. And when I make the choices it’s solely based on achieving club goals.”
Manuvire said he did not know where he might have crossed Chunga’s path, if ever he did, but his prayer is for a second chance.
“I really don’t know what happened, I don’t remember doing anything that might have annoyed the boss,” said Manuvire. “What I only remember is after the defeat to Border Strikers he said there are people who think they are indispensible, a situation he said he will never tolerate.
“The next thing I was out of the team together with some senior guys. But my hope is the club affords me a second chance and allows me to continue with my career.
“You know I am dying to get a seat on the Warriors plane to Gabon but this won’t happen if I am not playing like this,” he said.
Amid the player selection storm, Chunga can afford to point to the results and argue the team is improving under his watch. City have won four and registered two draws in nine league fixtures under Chunga – a better return compared to the two wins and three draws in eight matches under predecessor Taurai Mangwiro.
The City mentor will be hoping his team get the much-needed consistency starting with the match against How Mine today.
