BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE AMBITIOUS Premier League side Ngezi Platinum Stars have wielded the axe on coach Benjani Mwaruwari after he presided over 13 matches punctuated by a poor run which has seen the team slide out of the title matrix.
The former Warriors captain saw his side succumb to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Yadah FC over the weekend, a second loss in three matches, which may have prompted the club to sever ties with the coach.
In the 13 matches, Benjani, who is a greenhorn in coaching, won three, drew six and lost four to leave the team on position 10 on the log standings after 22 rounds of matches.
Ngezi Platinum Stars are currently on a four-match winless run, having drawn two matches against Highlanders and Caps United, while they lost against Herentals and Yadah FC.
This is the second time this season that the Mhondoro-Ngezi-based side has parted ways with a coach after Benjani’s predecessor Rodwell Dhlakama was fired back in February on similar charges.
The club announced the former Manchester City striker’s sacking as well as the return of Takesure Chiragwi as interim head coach in a statement yesterday.
“Ngezi Platinum Stars Football Club would like to inform all its stakeholders that the club has parted ways with head coach Benjani Mwaruwari by mutual agreement.
“This was Benjani’s first coaching assignment and both the club and the coach agreed that it did not deliver the expected results, hence the decision to separate was in the best interest of the club. NPS FC wishes Benjani all the best in his future endeavours.
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“Meanwhile, the board has appointed assistant coach Takesure Chiragwi as the interim head coach assisted by Klifton Kadulira,” the statement read.
Chiragwi was also given the reins temporarily when the club parted ways with Dhlakama.
Ngezi Platinum, who made clear their intention to challenge for the title this season, took a gamble on the inexperienced Benjani, who is holder of a Uefa A coaching badge and has had attachments with developmental and junior sides at his former clubs Portsmouth in England and AJ Auxerre in France.
When the “Undertaker” was unveiled as Ngezi Platinum Stars head coach at the end of March, he promised to win “things” for the club, but he has left without achieving any of his targets.
Ngezi Platinum Stars will begin life without Benjani with a home date against Triangle this weekend.
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