Thursday, February 6, 2025

Coaches merry go round intensifies

We are six games into the Botswana Premier League (BPL) 2022 / 23 season. The “fire a coach – hire a coach” silly season has started in earnest.

As pressure mounts on the BPL teams, the common theme of ‘parted ways amicably with our coach’ are echoed from club to club. Even though the first round of the league is yet to reach the halfway mark, three coaches have already gone.

As is the norm, when results are not coming often the coaches are the first to be shown the door. Not surprisingly, it is coaches from the struggling clubs who have left their jobs. But for this season, it is safe to say the drama started way too earlier.

Before the first ball of the league season was kicked, Extension Gunners parted ways with head coach Oupa Kowa. The coach allegedly left the team midway through the league season preparations without the knowledge of his employers and he was dismissed for his absenteeism. It has since emerged that the then Extension Gunners coach had gone for a coaching course that was conducted by BFA without the blessings of his principals.

Next to follow was Mogoditshane Fighters head coach Nelson Olebile who jumped ship after only one game in charge. His resignation came in the wake of his team suffering a 2 – 0 defeat at the hands of Township Rollers. This was to be Olebile’s only game in charge at the premier league side. He resigned and headed for the newly promoted first division South side, VTM football club. Fighters off season training was not done properly according to those close to the management.

In Palapye, Morupule Wanderers head coach Daniel Chicco Nare became the third coach to be unemployed when the club shooed him off its doors this past week. A press statement from Morupole did not mention what triggered the relationship between them and the coach but wished him well in his future endeavours. While nothing was said, there is a suspicion that he was shown the door for poor performance.

Despite being one of the best resourced teams, Morupule Wanderers has had an indifferent start to the season. This is despite bringing in a number of new signings who were expected to make it a competitive side this season. So far this season, Wanderers have collected only five points from the first six games. They have notched one win, two draws and three losses.

Meanwhile, the writing is said to be on the wall for Sua Flamengos head coach Rahman Gumbo. Another coach who has resources, Gumbo has secured only 3 points out of possible 18 from 6 matches he played thus far. According to sources within the team, the management is not happy and already have made their minds to part ways with Gumbo before things get uglier.

Last month the premier league management cautioned four teams for nom compliance for using coaches who don’t meet the set standards. The head coaches at premier league are expected to have minimum of CAF “B” license/qualification. The teams that were cautioned to cease from using unqualified coaches were Extension Gunners, Mogoditshane Fighters, Eleven Angels and Security Systems.

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