It came as a shock to the football community when BDF XI head coach Letang ‘Rasta’ Kgengwenyane announced that he was leaving the club after their hard-fought 1-0 win over Orapa United at the SSKB Stadium last weekend.
The players and supporters were heartbroken as they questioned why their coach has to leave the army side at their time of need. This is due to the fact that Matebele have been doing well under his leadership and they sit at the summit of the beMOBILE Premier League table enjoying a healthy five-point gap ahead of their closest rivals Township Rollers.
Before their game against FC Satmos yesterday, Matebele were sitting at 35 points with 15 games.
Under the guidance of Kgengwenyane, BDF XI have been playing entertaining football, seeing them only conceding three goals in the process. Matebele have neither lost a game nor conceded a goal when playing at their fortress.
Though it has been announced that Kgengwenyane is leaving to further his studies in Zambia, it is understaood it that the soft-spoken coach has been forced out because of the stormy relationship he has with the club’s leadership.
Sources close to the club said the man, commonly known as Rasta, would have long left but the studies are used as an excuse.
Matebele chairman, Boikanyo Addanes, has come out guns blazing, describing the allegations as utter rubbish.
The army brigadier said he is wondering why people would claim that they are not happy with Rasta when he has been doing a fine job.
“It is pure rubbish that we did not have a good working relationship with Rasta. I wonder who could be spreading those lies to the media. As far as the management is concerned, Rasta has been doing a fine job for us and we’ve never complained about him at any of our meetings. Rasta is a gentleman and I want to tell you that we’ve never interfered in his job,” he said.
Addanes pointed out that if it was up to the club’s committee, they would Kgengwenyane would finish the job he started by winning the League.
“This is something which was out of the control of BDF XI. Rasta is going to do a course of his life. This kind of opportunities comes once in life and he had to leave us. It would have been stupid for Rasta not to take such an opportunity because football has no future. We would like to wish him all the best and we appreciate the good work he has done for the club,” said the straight-talking chairman.
Kgengwenyane is expected to leave for military training in Zambia on January 5 and he is only expected back home at the end of next year. He has been replaced by former Nico United coach, Elijah Chikwanda, who started his work on Thursday afternoon.
Chikwanda has signed six-month agreement with Matebele and the management will review his work at the end of the season.
“We had to make an immediate decision because our assistant (Barney Marman) has no experience to take the team forward. We grilled him (Chikwanda) and I must say that we’re satisfied by his qualities. We believe he can take the button to the finish line and we’ve no doubt that he’ll keep the fire burning,” said Addanes.
Experts have indicated that the sudden change at Matebele might have a negative impact on the club especially in their ambitions to lift the title. Addanes said that they aware that the move might backfire but they are ready for any outcome.
“We know that any transition will have some challenges but we had no choice. It depends on how we’ll manage that change,” he said.
Addanes added that when the transfer window opens at the beginning of January, they would beef up their squad with a striker and defender.
BDF XI are expecting a Zimbabwean hitman in a few days and they will have to let go either Saukani Zulu or Francis Kanda to accommodate the new man.
“We want to compete strongly in the league and Mascom Top 8 hence there is a need to bring another striker. The league is in our bag and we’ll ourselves to blame if we can’t take it,” he said.
Addanes scoffed at reports linking them with BMC striker Hendrick Moyo. “What has he done at BMC for us to chase his signature? We wanted to sign Hendrick when he was with Gunners sometime back but he was dishonest with us regarding his contract. He showed he is not an honest player and there is no room for such players in our team. Simply he’s not in our radar,” said the army brigadier.
