Mqondisi Dube
22 August 2008
Gaborone — Gaborone giants, Township Rollers are reportedly close to securing the services of former Zimbabwe national team coach, Rahman Gumbo.
The Zimbabwean was said to be, in Gaborone last week to meet with Rollers officials. The future of Rollers' Zambian coach, Dickson Ngwenya has been a subject of speculation in the past few weeks. Ngwenya has been under pressure after his charges stuttered in the league and crashed out of the Coca-Cola Cup to minnows Mochudi Buffaloes.
A source close to Gumbo confirmed that the MTL Wanderers' coach travelled to Gaborone to discuss a possible move to Mapalastina. An industrious midfielder during his playing days, Gumbo, the brother to former Nico midfielder, Norman, has successfully coached Premier League sides in Zimbabwe, the national team and MTL Wanderers in Malawi.
He has a number of league medals under his belt and is an astute and respected mentor in his homeland. He won the league with Wanderers in Malawi in only his first season. At one stage, it was said he was in line to take over as Malawi's national coach.
It is not the first time that Gumbo has been linked with Rollers. Back in 2000, he was reported to be heading to the Gaborone glamour club.
However, the move fell through. Gumbo rose to prominence while playing for then Super League side, Eagles in Zimbabwe before he was snatched by crowd pullers, Highlanders. He then moved to Cyprus and in the process broke into the national team, playing alongside Nico coach, Madinda Ndlovu and TAFIC mentor, Willard Mashinkila-Khumalo.
He was part of Zimbabwe's famed 'Dream Team' that came agonisingly close to qualifying for the 1994 World Cup in America. He hung up his boots and took up coaching.
He led Highlanders to back-to-back titles before moving to Caps United. He was appointed Zimbabwe national team coach where he enjoyed relative success before MTL Wanderers snatched him.
Meanwhile, Rollers' officials have denied that they want to replace Ngwenya with Gumbo. The club's spokesperson, Molatlhegi Mangole said Ngwenya still remains their coach although he wants to be given leave. As a result, he said there have been calls to hunt for a coach, in the event Ngwenya goes on leave.
Rollers' chairperson, David Mmui said they have a long contract with Ngwenya and he is not aware of imminent changes in the technical department. "There might be pressure from our fans but what is needed is patience.
"Even the management needs time," Mmui said. He told Mmegi Sport that they are currently discussing the performance of the team with a view to identifying problems. He said Rollers intend o call a press conference to address recent developments at the club. Rollers held an annual general meeting on Saturday but failed to chart the way forward.
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