RAHMAN Gumbo has upset ambitious Southern Region Division One outfit Makomo after accepting a new job as coach of Witbank Spurs in South Africa.
Makomo, who trail leaders Hwange by 13 points midway through the season, insist that Gumbo is their coach even after the South African First Division side released a statement confirming him as their coach.
This sets the stage for a legal wrangle that may yet force Witbank to compensate Makomo.
“As far as we are concerned, Rahman Gumbo is still our coach,” Makomo secretary Lewis Jeche said.
On Monday, Witbank said Gumbo would take charge of their pre-season and lead the team’s campaign for promotion into the ABSA Premier League.
“Our new coach is Raham Gumbo. He is the Zimbabwe national team assistant coach. If you can check his (Gumbo) success with Sunday Chidzambwa in the Zimbabwean team since they took over, it shows that they brought something different,” Witbank CEO Freddy Mapulane said.
“His record speaks for itself because he has worked all over Africa and wherever he went he was winning championships. So we thought that he might bring luck to us as well for us to achieve something this season with the experience he has got as well.”
Mapulane said they had “finalised everything”, adding: “Last week, we couldn’t agree on terms somewhere. But we finalised and made the decision.”
Makomo, however, say Gumbo – who was six months into his contract with them – asked for time out to attend a personal matter and he remains their coach.
“Everything else about him going to South Africa is just a rumour because as I speak to you right now, I don’t have Gumbo’s resignation letter,” Jeche maintained.
Gumbo has won silverware with Highlanders, CAPS United, Telecom Wanderers in Malawi and Mochudu Centre Chiefs in Botswana.
