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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
EROL AKBAY’s nine-month romance with Premiership side Ngezi Platinum Stars has ended.

A report on ZTV’s main news bulletin last night also said Highlanders had also parted company with Mandla “Lulu’’ Mpofu, who is now set to be replaced by Mark Harrison.

Akbay is also a former coach of Bosso.

The Mhondoro-based side finally ran out of patience with the Dutch coach yesterday, and new coaches are expected to be named soon.

His assistant, Tendai Chikuni, has also been shown the exit door.

“Ngezi Platinum Stars FC wishes to announce the departure of head coach Erol Akbay and his assistant Tendai Chikuni from the club with immediate effect.

“The separation is by mutual consent,” the club said in a brief statement.

They added new coaches will be named soon.

Akbay bounced back into the domestic Premiership in January when the Dutchman inked a two-year deal to join last year’s league runners-up.

The former Highlanders gaffer took over after the ambitious platinum miners surprisingly wielded the axe on Tonderai Ndiraya in October last year, with just five games to go before the end of the season.

Clifton Kadurira had been in charge of the team on an interim basis following the departure of Ndiraya, but five points from a possible 15 in the last five games of the 2018 season cost him dearly.

And, by bringing in Akbay back to Zimbabwe, the club were hoping that would help them turn their fortunes this season.

But Ngezi Platinum have been struggling in the Premiership marathon where they are in eighth place with 32 points from 23 matches.

They have won eight games, drawn as many matches and lost seven times.

They are eight points behind surprise pacesetters ZPC Kariba.

Life has not been rosy for Akbay since he arrived at Ngezi Platinum in January this year, as his side found the going tough in the early stages of the championship race.

And, in a bid to stem the tide, the platinum miners opened their cheque book during the mid-season transfer window and signed five new players who included former Ajax Cape-Town midfielder Gerald Takwara and former Kaizer Chiefs forward Mitchel Katsvairo.

They also brought in Everson Fembera from Division One side Cranborne Bullets as well as Arial Makopa from fellow Premiership side Yadah.

Young Billy Vheremu was also promoted from their development squad.

But, Ngezi Platinum still found themselves struggling to mount a serious challenge in the championship race.

Akbay recently pointed a finger at local referees for his side’s woes, blaming the match officials for their 0-1 defeat to TelOne at Ascot on Saturday.

The Dutchman also recently grabbed headlines for the wrong reasons after he threw a missile at an assistant referee in their 2-0 defeat at Chicken Inn.

“It was bad game from our side and we conceded a silly penalty. For me it was not penalty, but the referee decided otherwise.

“Referees are not fair to Ngezi and now everybody knows this,” Akbay told reporters after Saturday’s defeat by TelOne.

But the Ngezi Platinum management decided to wield the axe yesterday.