15 Nov 2017

BTC premier league might still be in its infant stage, at only week eight, but the winds of change are already sweeping through the top flights technical set-ups like never before. 

With only eight games played of the expected 30 games that each team ought to have played by the end of the season, the traditional coaches’ merry-go-round is already taking centre stage with the rumuor-mill in full swing while some coaches have already been shown the exit door by their respectable teams.

There is already an expected notable change of guard in Sharps Shooting Stars dugout following the suspension of Keitumetse ‘Pio’ Paul. 

The league’s rookies looked impressive during the pre-season training, but the same however cannot be said about their performance on the league standing as they currently occupy the 11^th position.  

The much travelled and often outspoken Paul was astonishingly suspended by Sharps management with some suspecting an off-the-field incident that might have rubbed management the wrong way.  

There are also speculations that the suspension could have been due to the side’s poor start to the season while others alleged that it could have been linked to events that characterised the bruising encounter, which left Rollers attacking midfielder, Joel Mogorosi with a fracture.

The appointment of Rapelang Tsatsilebe at Sharps as technical director has raised many eyebrows as he is tipped to replace Paul, who however has been at the centre of controversy in many instances from his days as National team’s Under 23’s head coach and his short stint at Extension Gunners.

  Another shocking departure is that of Orapa United’s mentor, Madinda Ndlovu.  

With three league titles under his belt, Ndlovu is arguably the most decorated coach in the local football cycles, but having started the league campaign on a high, Ndlovu is currently finding the going tough as the Ostriches are occupying spot number six in the league table. 

If the rumour-mill is anything to go by, the latter is rumored to be succeeded by former Mochudi Centre Chiefs head coach, Beston Chambesi with Daniel Nare being his assistant.  

Chambesi is not a new comer to local football, having replaced Ndlovu at Centre Chiefs and winning the league title with the Kgatleng giants, it remains to be seen if his move to Orapa will materialise.

Orapa United vice chairperson, Kennekae Nkape confirmed the sucking of Ndlovu.  

Nkape however admitted that the team management had a series of consultation meetings with Ndlovu prior to his sucking and the two parties reached a manual understanding to part ways. 

The decision to part ways with Ndlovu, he said, was primarily triggered by the poor run of results that the team has been experiencing in recent times despite a formidable arsenal of players in its roster. 

Meanwhile, Miscellaneous has also parted ways with Daniel Nare.  

Following an impressive start of the league with ‘Tsenala’ playing eight games and accumulating 14 points and being at spot number three on the log, Nare departure from the Serowe-based team came unexpectedly, said the team chairman Seiphetlho Sefhako.

Sefhako confirmed that indeed Miscellaneous has parted ways with Nare, explaining that they could not stand on Nare’s way as he desired to leave since he was promised a better offer somewhere else. “We could not match what Orapa United was offering Nare, therefore it was only fair for us to let him go”, he said.

He however added that Miscellaneous has roped in former Zebras mentor, Oris Radipotsane on a one-year long contract.

Black Forest on the other hand are to demote Reetsang Letlole to the assistant coach position following the arrival of Gilbert Mushangazhike, who has signed a two-year deal with Black Forest, but still awaiting his work permit.

Despite only being in possession of class C coaching license, Letlole has guided Forest to position seven on the league standing with 11 points from eight games. 

According to Black Forest chairperson, Emmauel Kekobilwe, Letlole served as Rapelang Tsatsilebe’s assistant in the last season campaign and he only held fort as a caretaker coach while awaiting the appointment of a permanent head coach.

Kekobilwe highlighted that Letlole does not qualify to be appointed on permanent basis despite an impressive start in the league since the club licensing rules and regulations requires that a head coach should be in possession of a minimum of class B coaching license.

Further, Mochudi Centre Chiefs are still waiting to usher in former Malawi national team coach, Kinnah Phiri as a head coach. Centre Chiefs’ manager, Clifford Mogomotsi indicated that all the paper work is being completed and they are hopeful that the work permit will be issued out in no time.

One of the biggest requests from fans, analysts and former players has always been that fresh new ideas be brought into the league in terms of coaches, and many are skeptical with the recycling of coaches as it seems not to add anything new in the league. Some pundits, however are of the view that it is wise to recycle coaches within the league as they are already tried and tested and have a clear understanding of the local setup.

With the league only on week eight, it still remain to be seen which coach will fall by the way side as the league marathon is far from over. BOPA