Mafu to return on Monday
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday September 15, 2017 12:57
Mafu missed most parts of the pre-season preparations as he was ‘stranded’ in his native country, Zimbabwe, after the club failed to meet his transport costs.
The coach has been one of the club’s dire financial situation’s casualties, following investor Sayed Jamali and other sponsors pulling out at the beginning of the last season.
Speaking to Mmegi Sport yesterday, Chiefs’ general manager, Clifford Mogomotsi said the club’s management and Mafu agreed that both parties will have to meet their obligation during a Tuesday meeting that was attended by an elder from Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA).
“We had a fruitful meeting with the coach on Tuesday. We had not denied that Mafu is still our coach and we did not deny that we owe him. We have made a commitment as a club that we should meet our obligations and he is also aware that he has running contract that he has to honour. As a club we will meet our obligations when the situation permits,” he said.
Mogomotsi further revealed that the 51-year-old mentor, who is in his last of a two-year deal, is also keen to continue working for the club and called for calm as the club is on a reform process. “We were looking at the bigger picture. He is a good coach and we wanted to keep him. He also showed that he will continue working for the club,” Mogomotsi said.
After the meeting, Mafu attended the team’s training that was led by assistant coaches Innocent Morapedi and Pontsho Moloi. The coach is said to have been impressed with the quality of players recruited during the winter transfer window despite not having the financial muscle.
“He has been monitoring the situation from that side (Zimbabwe). The guys who were here continued where the coach left. He is a good writer of a report. I think we signed the quality of players the coach wanted.
He has since returned to Zimbabwe, but he will join us on Monday where he will be in charge of the training,” Mogomotsi said.
Chiefs have recruited a number of high quality players in the window including Lawrence Majawa who was snapped from arch rivals Township Rollers, speedy attacker Lesego Lubinda from Jwaneng Galaxy and former Gaborone United (GU) trio of Thato Ogopotse, Gosegonna Molapisi and Lerato Botshelo.
The team endured their worst season in more than 10 years as they finished without silverware for a second consecutive season. In the process, the team lost marksman, Jerome Ramatlhakwana to Rollers and nimble footed attacker, Absalom Limbondi who has since returned to Namibia after six months.
According to reports, Limbondi is owed outstanding fees by the club and decided against extending his stay with the Maaparankwe.
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 with a depleted squad as players boycotted training. The Kgatleng giants will begin their quest to return to glory against Gaborone United in a high profile encounter next week Sunday.