Top Zim side court Gumbo

| Thursday October 2, 2014 11:12

Speculation is rife after Gumbo watched Highlanders go down 3-1 to Elvis Meleka’s ZPC Kariba at home on Sunday.

Sources in Bulawayo said Gumbo held a meeting with the Highlanders executive on Tuesday afternoon at 1pm. “He has been singled out as the ideal replacement for Kelvin Kaindu. He was at the stadium on Sunday and also held a meeting with the team on Tuesday afternoon,” a reliable source told Mmegi Sport.

Highlanders’ chief executive officer, Ndumiso Gumede distanced his club from Gumbo saying ‘he is not in our plans’.

“We have six games left before the end of the season so there is no need to panic. So the idea is to plan ahead for next season,” Gumede said in a telephone interview. The source also added the Bulawayo giants had earmarked to have Gumbo take over at the start of next season.

The Zambian coach, Kaindu, resigned following weeks of pressure culminating from the team’s poor run of form. Gumbo has previously coached Highlanders and is the fans’ favourite to take over.

Gumbo said he would not comment on the issue. “There is nothing I can say about this,” he said.

GU secretary Hebert Letsebe said they were content with the coach and are not aware of the likelihood of him leaving them. “This is news to me, I am just hearing it from you.” GU are in fifth place after winning four games, a draw and two losses. Letsebe said they were not bothered by the two losses. “So far so good, we are fine, looking at our position on the log it is not bad.”

Gumbo has also been linked with the Namibia national team post.