BULAWAYO – Highlanders sacked their coach Mandla Mpofu and three members of his technical team on Tuesday, just three days after they beat table-topping Dynamos.
Mpofu had been in charge since 2020 but his appointment coincided with the suspension of football due to Covid-19.
Midway through his first season in charge, Mpofu leaves Highlanders 13th in the Castle Lager Premier League with 20 points from 15 matches – 11 adrift of leaders Chicken Inn on 31 points.
Highlanders could still be docked a point after they caused the abandonment of their match with FC Platinum on April 24 when the teams were level 1-1 and Platinum were due to take a penalty.
They will be confident, however, of keeping the three points from last Sunday’s match with Dynamos at Barbourfields which was abandoned in injury time when the visitors’ players and fans prevented the restart when Highlanders scored in added time.
Highlanders chairman Johnfat Sibanda informed Mpofu, his assistant Bekithemba Ndlovu, goalkeepers coach Julius Ndlovu and welfare manager Vezigama Dlodlo that their services were no longer needed.
Joel Luphahla, who was drafted from Division One side Golden Eagles in March to beef up Mpofu’s backroom staff, was the only survivor of the purge.
Luphahla took charge of Highlanders’ training at White City Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
The Premier Soccer League suspended football indefinitely this week after calling a crisis meeting to deal with growing hooliganism and football matches. The suspension should allow Highlanders enough time to find Mpofu’s replacement.
