Nare, Mmipi quit Gunners

BOITUMELO KHUTSAFALO
Staff Writer | Wednesday November 10, 2010 00:00

 

Nare was in his fourth season at the club, where he has enjoyed relative success.

'Yes, it is true that he has resigned. We received his resignation letter on Monday afternoon,' Kgasa told Mmegi Sport yesterday. He said Nare has not stated the reasons for his resignation. 'We are meeting to discuss the matter as the executive committee,' he said.

He added that they are yet to make a decision on the way forward and whether to re-negotiate with the coach.

There have been allegations that some members of the Gunners' executive committee have difficulties working with Nare who has transformed Gunners from perennial relegation candidates to a formidable side during his four-year stay at the club.

Kgasa said their intention is to keep Nare for another four seasons, as they believe he has done a lot for the club. The coach's contract was supposed to end next season.

Efforts to get a comment from Nare were futile as his cellular phone was off. In his first two seasons at Gunners, the club finished seventh, a vast improvement from the last day relegation escapes of the previous years. Last season, Nare guided Mapantsula to an impressive fourth spot but since then it has been obvious that all is not well at the Lobatse arsenal.

Gunners made a slow start to the current season, losing the two opening games before hitting peak form. At one stage, they occupied third spot before reports of player unrest surfaced.

Things have now taken a turn for the worse in the playing unit with news that influential attacking midfielder, Mmipi, has left.

Kgasa said the player handed his resignation letter last Thursday, prior to the game against Black Peril. It is said that the club management had instructed Nare and his technical team not to field Mmipi against Black Peril.

However, the player was in action during the win against the minnows. Kgasa said they wanted Mmipi excluded from the game because he had resigned although his matter had not been concluded.

He said it was only logical to exclude the player from the team until his matter has been finalised. Mmipi said he quit Gunners because of pay disputes. Kgasa did concede that Mmipi, whose contract ends next season, is owed money. He said that they have been struggling financially.