Mafu �stranded� in Zimbabwe
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday August 18, 2017 15:24
Mafu was appointed Chiefs coach at the beginning of last season on a two-year contract, but he has to enjoy an extended holiday in his native Zimbabwe due to financial struggles at the Mochudi club. Mafu has been one of the first casualties of Chiefs’ dire financial situation, as in June he told this publication that the club has defaulted on some of his wages but he was willing to stay at the club.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport yesterday, Chiefs general manager, Clifford Mogomotsi confirmed that Mafu has not joined the team for the pre-season but denied that the 51-year-old mentor has left the club as he is owed by the club. “We cannot deny that we have a situation at our club. But Mafu is still with us. He has a running contract with us. He has not abandoned us.
The money issue has affected him as it has affected anyone else,” he said. Mogomotsi further said the club is yet to meet Mafu’s travel costs, but assured that he will be part of the team before the start of the new season. “The money we had was not sufficient. He understood our situation. We had to sacrifice. It was not only him, the players were also affected. Remember, we had a mass player exodus at the end of the season,” he said.
Mogomotsi further said due to lack of funds the club has failed to secure deals for their targets in the transfer market while they have lost a number of players. “It was always going to be difficult because some of the players we wanted are still contracted to their teams.
But we could not promise what we cannot offer. We do not have the money and the players who wanted to go we did not stand in their way. By next week, we will have a final list of the new players after we make final assessments at the tournament we are playing this weekend.
Meanwhile, Mogomotsi said the club has been undergoing massive reconstruction since a new executive committee was voted in early this month. He said the new committee would assume full office roles after August 31 and their first task would be to seek a sponsor for the team. “We cannot expect miracles.
After we stabilise our situation and we are financially strong, then we should go for the (league) honours but at the moment we want to compete and we will bounce back,” Mogomotsi said. Chiefs endured their worst season in more than 10 years, as they finished without silverware for a second consecutive season.
Magosi finished outside the top four for the first time since 2006, as they had to settle for the seventh spot. The five time league champions on numerous occasions had to battle for three points with league rivals with a depleted squad as players boycotted training. Currently assistant coaches, Innocent Morapedi and Pontsho Moloi are in charge of the preseason activities.