This time, it is the “Asiagate” ghost that looks set to haunt Chidzambwa, arguably Zimbabwe’s most successful soccer coach, who also got Leopards promoted back to the ABSA Premiership.
An internal source from Leopards confirmed to The Zimbabwean early this week that the club might get rid of the former Dynamos mentor following allegations that he participated in match-fixing scandals that are being investigated in Zimbabwe, while he was still in charge of the Zimbabwe Warriors in 2007.
“As you might well know, the coach is being investigated on allegations that he threw matches during a tournament with the Zimbabwe national team in Malaysia in 2007,” said the source.
“The club is taking the allegations very seriously and is already planning ahead. We do not want to be caught flat-footed should he be found guilty by the probe, so we are already talking to a number of coaches who should take over from him.”
Although Chidzambwa himself has not been made aware of the search for a new coach, the source revealed that a front-runner has already been identified for the job, but the new coach will first work with the Zimbabwean pending the direction that the allegations will take.
“A number of local coaches have already been interviewed and Mpumalanga Black Aces assistant coach, Mark Harrison looks likely to be hired by the club to work with Chidzambwa and eventually replace him,” added the source.
Club spokesman, Tshifhiwa Thidiela, confirmed the new developments.
“I cannot reveal much on the fate of Chidzambwa, who still has a contract with us, but we are interviewing some candidates yes,” he said briefly.
Chidzambwa still has two years left in his contract with Leopards and was already tipped to lead them in the CAF Confederations Cup this season.
If found guilty of the match-fixing allegations, the Zimbabwean could be banned from football for life, hence Leopards are restless.
Should Lidoda Duvha give him the boot, this will be the second time in less than a year that Chidzambwa is sacked by A South African club. He was dismissed from his R120 000 a month job as coach of Free State Stars last September, after a poor start that saw the team scrambling out a mere three points in as many games early last season.
Post published in: Football