GU sacks Chabinga, hire Bright

MQONDISI DUBE
Staff Writer | Tuesday March 16, 2010 00:00

 

Chabinga was fired yesterday, a day after he saw the Reds crash out of the Coca Cola Cup at the hands of First Division side, Mogoditshane Fighters.

GU spokesperson, Romeo Benjamin told Mmegi Sport that they parted with Chabinga yesterday and brought in Bright, who recently parted ways with troubled South African First Division side, Bay United.

Benjamin said Chabinga was on three-month probation and had failed to deliver on set targets. He said the coach was supposed to improve the team's play and fight for a top four finish and win the Coca Cola Cup.

'That has not happened so we reviewed his performance and came to the conclusion that we should part ways now. He failed to achieve his target,' Benjamin said. He said it is evident that the team's play has not improved but instead, 'we are on the verge of relegating'.

Although Chabinga led GU to a famous 2-2 away draw against Orlando Pirates in the preliminary round of the CAF Champions League, Benjamin said this did not count as players were motivated for the clash against a big team.

'It is difficult to judge his performance against Pirates. Players are always motivated in such games and perform above themselves,' Benjamin said.

Chabinga joined GU midway through the first round of the league, replacing countryman, Mike Sithole. He had previously coached in Swaziland.

He failed to lift a struggling side attempting to defend its league title. GU's recent performances including a 3-1 beating at the hands of Uniao Flamengo Santos, the 2-1 defeat at Extension Gunners and Sunday's 2-1 loss to Mogoditshane Fighters left the management with no option but to sack Chabinga.

His successor, Bright is not new to local football, having led Mogoditshane Fighters to a league treble at the turn of the millennium.

He is also credited with moulding an ambitious Under 23 side that stood its own against powerhouses in the continent and beyond.

Bright has spent sometime in South Africa and is fresh from an unsuccessful attempt to lead Bay United to the South African Premier League.

Although Bright told Mmegi Sport in an earlier interview that he will not consider local clubs, he has somersaulted and joined GU.

He faces a daunting task of reinvigorating a dispirited side that has seen its league chase sway completely off the rails and still nursing the heartbreak of being dumped out of the Coca Cola Cup by unfashionable Fighters.