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Silver Strikers football club are not leaving any stone unturned in their re-building exercise for the coming season. Latest reports from the Reserve Bank sponsored side indicate the team has started talking to the legendary South African-based professional player Ernest Mtawali for a possible coaching contract.
The new development follows Young Chimodzi’s indecisiveness on whether he will be taking up the one-year coaching contract offer at the club or not. The Civil Service United (Civo) coach was offered the contract about three weeks ago but until yesterday, he had not made any official commitment to his former club.
Tired of waiting for Chimodzi, the club’s executive is reported to have launched talks with the former Flames’ celebrated midfielder, who is slowly switching from his playing career to start coaching.
Highly placed sources from the bankers’ executive meeting, which took place last Thursday evening at the Silver Club in Area 47 confided to Nation Online over the weekend that Mtawali’s issue was discussed.
“He has already been talked to and all we are waiting for is his response,” said a source, speaking on strict conditions of anonymity.
However, club vice chairman Patrick Uka, who is reported to be handling the issue, refused to comment.
“Who has told you? I have no any comment on that,” he retorted.
Asked about the club’s present position on Chimodzi, Uka said: “We just want a definite yes or no from him. We will be checking with him today (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday) and depending on what he is going to say, we will see what to do,” said Uka.
Quizzed why he has been failing to sign the contract after assuring the Reserve Bank sponsored side of his services, Chimodzi said he was consulting his family.
“I have a family and I feel it is important that I have to consult my family members before taking any crucial decision.
“There were some problems, when I was at Silver and my father and other family members were concerned. This is the only thing that is remaining,” said Chimodzi, who quit Silver last season after being confronted by some of the team’s supporters on the team’s poor showing.
Mtawali could not be drawn to shed more light on the issue saying: “There was a verbal communication but its an issue that cannot be discussed in the press because there is nothing concrete at the moment.”
The former Flames midfield stalwart who recently attended a Grade B coaching course in South Africa, said should there be an offer from the bankers he will definitely give it a thought.
Mtawali, 38, who also wants to mentor the Flames as a coach, could also not be drawn to comment on whether he has finally decided to hang up his boots.
“I cannot say anything on that at the moment because there are other things that I have to seriously consider but the thought of coming back home to help in coaching is there,” he said.
South African Premier League leaders Mamelodi Sundown were recently reported to be interested in incorporating Mtawali in their coaching panel.
According to a leading South African magazine Kick-Off, Mtawali was asked to submit his CV to the Pretoria-based side.
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