The Sunday Mail
A STORM is brewing at Gweru-based top flight league side Chapungu, with the impending appointment of veteran coach Jairos Tapera as technical advisor said to have ruffled current head coach John Nyikadzino.
The airmen have agreed terms with the National Under-20 coach, who is now expected to start work on Friday as part of the team’s efforts to avoid the relegation scare they endured last season.
Tapera, himself a former service man, is not new to the airmen, having joined them as a technical advisor and assisted then head coach Innocent Chogugudza and saved the team from the jaws of relegation at the turn of the millennium.
His return, which is aimed at injecting technical stamina on the team’s bench, has, however, according to our sources, not been embraced, as Nyikadzino is said not to be keen on working with the widely-travelled gaffer.
“Nyikadzino feels threatened by the arrival of Tapera and is not keen with the whole arrangement.
“He has confided in us (those close to him) that the executive’s move is a sign they don’t appreciate the hardwork he put in and saved the team from relegation last season,” said the source close to the Chapungu boss.
Nyikadzino would, however, not be drawn into commenting on the row, saying he is only concerned with preparing the team for the up-coming season.
“I am only concerned with preparing the team and all technical issues. Anything other than that, including the appointment of personnel to the team, is not my business, but the executive’s,” said Nyikadzino.
Tapera said he sees no reason why his arrival will cause discomfort to anyone as he is coming in with a helping hand.
“I don’t think we will have any such problems because I have been approached not to take over, but to assist. It will be proper for me to comment beyond that and I think the best person to give you a clearer picture of what is on the ground is the CEO,” said Tapera.
Club chief executive officer Chris-Levie Mukotekwa said as far as he knew, having Tapera and Nyikadzino within the team was the best thing they could do as they seek better fortunes in the coming season.
“This arrangement we have made is the best you can think of under the circumstances we operate in. Tapera is coming in as a technical advisor and will be the link-man between management and the technical team. I then find it strange that some people are said to be not happy with this,” said Mukotekwa.
The team began its pre-season training early this year, with a training programme at Katanga range where coach Nyikadzino is said to have proposed the axing of about seven fringe players from last season’s squad, which proposal has been put on ice pending Tapera’s input.
Ex-FC Platinum fringe goalie Talbert Shumba, Nhlanhla Ncube, formerly with Hardbody, as well as forgotten Norman Njeleza are trying their luck with the airmen, as is a number of unheralded players.
