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Kelvin Kaindu

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter—
THE drama surrounding Kelvin Kaindu’s future at Highlanders took another twist yesterday amid reports that the coach was still at the club after the Bulawayo giants failed to give him the US$60 000 payout needed for his contract to be terminated. It emerged yesterday that while Kaindu had left the former champions on Monday, the divorce was a stalemate after Bosso only offered him a $15 000 golden handshake with the Zambian gaffer saying he deserves much more than that.

The Kaindu fiasco has left Highlanders deeply divided, with the club showing cracks in their leadership, and sources indicating that the executive has been split between those who want the coach to leave and others who are worried about the costs of letting him go.

Other sources said Kaindu has plunged into the centre of a vicious battle for control of the club with many lining themselves up to lead the country’s oldest team.
“In essence, there are now three candidates who have emerged as front-runners to lead Highlanders at elections set for next year and all are putting themselves in a position to take control of the club and Kaindu has become a pawn in the game,” the sources said.

“If Kaindu is fired, then this will add to the debt that Highlanders are already in and will be used as a campaign card against the current leadership.
“But then, how does the current executive keep Kaindu when it is clear that the fans, and possibly executive members, are also not happy with his performance?

“Tonight (last night), KK was consulting his lawyers on whether to resign or stay on the job, working on litigation and benefits, otherwise a mutual agreement has been reached with the executive of the club.

“KK insists that he has not failed so far and if a good offer comes along, he is willing to take it. From the information we are getting, it appears that if he resigns he will get $15 000 but if he is fired then he will get $60 000 plus three-months salary, a vehicle and other benefits as stipulated by his contract. It appears he is determined to leave as he is saying that he cannot be the one who causes the separation of the club and its fans.

“(Mark) Mathe will be the interim coach until the end of the season. Rahman (Gumbo) is tipped to take over next season with Maphepha (Ernest Sibanda) taking over as team manager with immediate effect.”

Highlanders are fourth on the log with 39 points, seven behind leaders Dynamos who are on 46, with six matches before the end of the season.
Yesterday, Highlanders chief executive Ndumiso Gumede, whose handling of the affair has also been questioned, said the Zambian was still their coach, at least for now.

“As far as we are concerned we have a stalemate. We hear that he has resigned, but we are not aware of that,” said Gumede.
The veteran football administrator yesterday said people were being swayed by the rumour-mill and as an executive, they were also curious and want the dust to settle down.
Following the team’s defeat on Sunday, some fans rained missiles onto the field and police had to use teargas to control the crowd which was baying for Kaindu’s head.

“The rumours that he told the players that he has resigned are not substantiated. If indeed the guy has resigned, he does not tell the birds in the forest, but will come to the employers.
“So until we see something written, it’s mere speculation,” said Gumede.

The Chronicle, which is usually the most authoritative voice when it comes to issues related to Highlanders, yesterday ran with the story that Kaindu had quit Bosso as the lead story on its front page.

Kaindu said he will be in charge of training today.
“I was busy this (yesterday) afternoon with something else. I will be conducting training tomorrow (today),” said Kaindu.
However, sources said the Highlanders executive is succumbing to pressure from the fans who want Kaindu fired after the team’s title hopes suffered a dent following successive defeats to Harare City and ZPC Kariba.

With the Highlanders executive committee set to go for elections next year, some feel Kaindu has turned into a pawn and is at the mercy of some powerful people, who have interests in taking charge of the club.

Kaindu is not new to labour disputes with Bosso after the Zambian coach once took the club to fifa for failing to pay him, before the turn of the millennium.
After picking up a career-ending injury before the end of his contract, Bosso failed to pay his salaries and he took the matter to the world football governing body.
Fifa found Bosso guilty and forced the club to pay him by garnishing payments that were supposed to be made to zifa.