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Botswana: Daka Dumps ECCO City
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
10 April 2008
Posted to the web 11 April 2008
Mogomotsi Moloi
Gaborone
Barry Daka has unexpectedly resigned as coach of national champions ECCO City Greens. Reports say the Zimbabwean has been given an offer he cannot refuse by another club.
ECCO spokesperson Thuso Mudongo, who was still shocked by the move said yesterday that the tactician resigned with immediate effect on Monday. "I did not believe it when I received the news but I personally called him and he confirmed that indeed he has found a better offer somewhere," said a disappointed Mudongo. He added that the coach indicated that it was a sad decision but he has made up his mind.
Mudongo said Daka's departure is a major blow for the club but they have accepted it. ECCO has given the coach till tomorrow to surrender the club's property in his possession. He is supposed to officially bid the club goodbye today at the training ground. Daka joined Mamoja-diskie at the beginning of last season and made history by guiding ECCO to become the first club from the north of the country to win the national soccer title. He jumps ship with only eight games remaining to complete his second season, which has been a struggle for the champions.
Inside sources claim that besides the good offer he got, Daka left because he was unhappy with the reluctance of officials to address player indiscipline. But Mudongo maintains that they had a good relationship with the coach and he has never showed any signs of unhappiness. He asserted that they gave Daka maximum support and even the players were happy. He said the only complaint from the coach is failure to beef up the squad in January. He regrets that Daka leaves at a time when the club is recovering after a poor run. The Francistown-based outfit has improved tremendously in recent times jumping from position 12 to the top-eight bracket in the log. Daka sat on the bench last weekend at the UB Stadium when ECCO narrowly lost 3-2 to second placed Gaborone United (GU).
"Honestly he is a great coach. Players, supporters and management loved him," asserted Mudongo. He added that players might panic and lose the bid to finish in the top eight. He said because their ambitions to successfully defend the title have gone up in smoke, they should at least strive for a top eight finish. Mudongo pleaded with supporters not to panic while management is handling the issue. He said assistant coach Atshele Molapi will take charge before Daka's replacement is found.
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Those close to the Zimbabwean coach disclosed that he is definitely heading to one of the teams in the south. The media-shy Daka did not answer his mobile phone.
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