The Sunday Mail
THERE have been mixed reactions to the recent appointment of Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu as Highlanders’ new technical adviser.
After a 19-year absence from the Bosso dressing room, the former Olympic and Highlanders prolific striker was given the envious task of leading the Bulawayo giants in their remaining crucial matches (five Castle Lager Premiership ties and a Chibuku Super Cup semi-final clash with nemesis Harare City).
Zulu’s critics say that he has been out of the game for so long and will probably find the new techniques and methods perhaps cumbersome for him.
Tsano’s supporters, on the other hand, think that this was the tonic that their side needed because of his vast experience and his knowledge of the Bosso bandwagon since he became one of its drivers in 1981.
I think that this was a master stroke move by the Bosso executive because there is no substitute for experience and Zulu possesses bags of that.
He is also known as a strict disciplinarian and a lot of indiscipline seems to have crept into some of the players’ minds at Bosso.
No doubt, Zulu will use his iron hand to get those who have wandered off-track right back in sync.
But I think Tsano’s greatest attribute will be his fatherly figure stance and advice that will surely form a caterpillar journey back to the good old days at Bosso.
I don’t believe that Highlanders are, all of a sudden, an inept outfit on the pitch.
Definitely not
The players’ body language, especially in the humiliating defeats by Dynamos, ZPC Kariba and Caps United, personified a disunited lot who seemed not to treasure the famous identity of the black and white jersey.
If you care to recall that in all these defeats, Bosso were always the first to fly out of the starting blocks but failed to nose ahead in that early dominance and then just crumbled like a deck of cards the moment they conceded a goal. However, it would be folly to expect Zulu to enact a new realm at Amahlolanyama alone.
He will need everybody’s support at the club – on and off the pitch.
Let’s see all those who claim to be “Bosso For Life” liven up Zulu’s return to the club that he served with utmost distinction.
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An unbelievable or, should I say, a very sick joke? I’m talking about the sacking of Nigerian coach Steven Keshi last Thursday by the board members of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) after “The Big Boss” had put the Super Eagles’ 2015 Afcon campaign back on track following their 3-1 triumph over Sudan, 24 hours earlier .
Nigeria now lie in third place behind Group A leaders South Africa and Congo while Sudan now anchor the standings
Now listen to this as well – Keshi has been replaced by a “consortium” of coaches – led by Shaibu Amodu and also includes Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Aloysius Agu!
It gets even crazier because this “consortium” will then be replaced by a European foreign-based coach soon after the qualifiers!
Whoever voted these clowns as the leaders of the NFF deserve to have their heads examined because they are the bigger clowns!
It was definitely the wrong decision and wrong time to fire Keshi because there are only four matches left in Nigeria’s qualification bid as they also hope to defend the crown they won in South Africa last year.
And what is this thing about European coaches that is so absurdly manifested amongst African football leaders?
Only a third of the Afcon competitions since its inception in 1957 have been won by non-African coaches. It boggles the mind, doesn’t it?
I’m delighted South African football president, Danny Jordan, has boldly declared that “local is lekker” for his country’s game after the appointment of Ephraim “Shakes” Mashaba and just look at what the former Orlando Pirates defender is doing for Bafana Bafana.
The confused NFF then issued a statement, praising the contributions of the technical crew led by Keshi for their “glorious accomplishments in the last three years!” My foot!
Fortunately, the silver lining at the end of Keshi’s cloud is that there are already reports of several top African national teams and clubs after his signature.
It’s true: You can’t keep a good man down. Yes, you’re thinking like me right now, aren’t you? This madness only happens in Africa!
Till next week, remember to take care of your loved ones and each other. It’s bye bye for now.
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