The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
“If history repeats itself, and the unexpected always happens, then how incapable must man be of learning from experience.”
At least that is according to Karl Marx, but it is the current predicament that Mhondoro-based side Ngezi Platinum find themselves in.
For the second year in a row, the mining side has sacked their coach in the midst of a title race.
First, it was Tonderai Ndiraya, then last week, it was Elroy Akbay’s turn to receive the dreaded axe.
And, as was the case last year, the decision was made during the home stretch, after an unexpected defeat by a relegation side. The sackings are always done, when the club feels “it’s now mathematically impossible to win the title”.
Since joining top flight football back in 2016, Ngezi Platinum Stars has seen a serious turnover in coaches, changing them on five separate occasions during a four-year period.
Club president Stanley Segula has since come out to defend his board’s decision to sack coaches in the last four seasons, citing that they all have been guided by a performance-based contract.
“In terms of performance, our coaches are guided by a performance-based contract, which is clear on club expectations,” said Segula.
“Unwavering commitment to club objectives and targets is a virtue.
“Naturally, when targets are missed and the club’s roadmap is compromised, the board, being the employer of the coach, is mandated to respond. The very embodiment of our values are paramount when such decisions are taken,” said Segula.
It is interesting to note that Ndiraya was bizarrely sacked by Ngezi as he trailed eventual champions FC Platinum with five points. He still had 15 points to play for.
At the time, a showdown against rivals FC Platinum loomed and a victory in that clash could have swung the momentum to their end.
Then Akbay replaced Ndiraya at the start of the season. The Dutchman was tasked with winning the league title.
The club is said to have done everything in its power to ensure they created the right environment for the former Highlanders coach as the team embarked on a two-week pre-season camp in South Africa.
But, a defeat from relegation threatened TelOne infuriated the powers that be at the Mhondoro-based side. They felt that “mathematically”, the Dutchman was out of the race.
The club president believes that the past three seasons’ slip ups in the title race have had a devastating effect on the Mhondoro-based side, thereby forcing the board to make drastic decisions.
“We have worked with great football brains in our four years of existence; but the club, fans and management have, however, been devastated by recurrent slip ups at those critical moments, when claiming the title race seems to be within our reach,” said Segula.
But, the sackings at such critical stages have left a number of questions.
Are Ngezi Platinum – the club, fans and management – overly ambitious in their set targets? Are they a quality team? Are they being let down by the technical personnel they hire? Or, is a lack of patience their biggest flaw? Does the turnover of coaches not worsen their situation?
During their short period in the Premier League, the club has constructed a world class stadium that is endowed with modern and well-equipped gym facilities as well as audio/video review infrastructure, among other features.
“The level of investment made by the club needs to match performance deliverables,” said Segula.
In an unexpected twist, Akbay has offered some insight into the relationship that currently exists between management and the coaches, fired or otherwise.
The Dutchman said during his stint at Ngezi, there were clashes between himself, the board, the executive and the technical department. They created an unconducive environment for achieving his targets.
“At the beginning of the season, when I was hired, the board was at odds with the executive, thereby making my job very difficult.
“That is the reason why it is not nice to work there,” Akbay told our sister paper on Thursday.
With the club expected to name a new coach this week, Segula said the technical changes will not affect the team’s quest for its first league title.
“With the changes, we do not expect the team to lose focus. It will be an opportunity for a new coach to come on board and rebuild a competitive culture and fighting spirit within the team in line with the team’s expected performance culture,” said Segula.
Chapungu gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama is expected to replace Akbay, although the club delayed making the announcement last week. There is a reported impasse between the Midlands outfit and the gaffer.
