The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
FORMER Botswana national team coach David Bright, one of the men linked with a move to replace the under fire Lloyd Mutasa, has revealed his strong admiration for Dynamos. However, the 60-year-old gaffer, who is currently coaching Botswana First Division side Morupule Wanderers without a contract, refused to discuss the DeMbare job prospects.
“I will only cross that bridge when I get there,” he said.
Dutchman Pieter De Jong (45), a former NAC Breda and Sparta Rotterdam player in Holland, who once had a coaching stint with Kenya Premier League giants AFC Leopards, has also been linked with the Dynamos post.
Former Highlanders coach Mohamed Fahti is the other foreign name reportedly being thrown around in the Dynamos boardroom as speculation over Mutasa’s future mounts.
A clique of influential former DeMbare players also believe the legendary coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa is the right candidate to take over from Mutasa, whose tenure came back under intense scrutiny after last Sunday’s 1-2 defeat to Highlanders at Barbourfields.
That was the first time in 10 years DeMbare suffered back to back league losses against Bosso, a development that left the former champions virtually out of contention for the 2016 championship race.
Mutasa now only has the Chibuku Super Cup to redeem himself and that journey starts with a first round clash against How Mine at Rufaro this afternoon.
And all this is happening a time when reports suggest that Dynamos president Keni Mubaiwa is already looking beyond Mutasa with Bright being one of the names being touted.
Last week, The Sunday Mail got in touch with Bright and the gaffer sounded coy.
“I know that Dynamos are a renowned team which plays in the Zimbabwe Premier League.
“As for those links, let me cross the bridge when I come across it,” he said.
But Bright, who has also had stints in South Africa with Black Leopards, Bay United and Santos, admitted he is open to a “big offer” in an interview with Mmegi.
“Right now, I am committed to Morupule Wanderers even though I am not contracted, I am just helping.
“If a big offer comes, I will not hesitate to take, I am a typical professional coach,” Bright was quoted as saying.
Dynamos acting secretary Webster Marechera maintains the team’s board is yet to discuss Mutasa’s future.
“We never held any meeting to discuss the future of our coaches.
“It has been said we are linked with some foreign coaches but I am not aware of anything like that,” said Marechera.
Wounded DeMbare host Chikurupati at Rufaro hoping to surpass last season’s feat when they went all the way to the final before losing 1-2 to Harare City.
Assistant coach Murape Murape has been rallying his players to forget about the Barbourfields nightmare.
“We have been pushing the players to forget about what happened on Sunday and concentrate on what’s ahead because it doesn’t make sense to dwell on the past. The Chibuku Cup has given us another chance,” said Murape.
How Mine come into this match on the back of three straight league defeats to Highlanders, Tsholotsho and FC Platinum.
Just like Mutasa, How Mine’s Zambian coach Kelvin Kaindu is also looking at the $500 000 Chibuku Super Cup as a potential source of redemption.
Today’s Cup fixtures
Triangle v Chicken Inn (Gibbo),
Highlanders v Mutare City (Barbourfields),
Dynamos v How Mine (Rufaro)
