Highlanders` Kaindu Dilemma, Can he Save His Skin?

Highlanders` Kaindu Dilemma, Can He Save His Skin?

Perkins Bare

Highlanders` 1-4 loss this past weekend in the inaugural TM Pick n Pay Challenge Cup opened up a can of worms as calls for Kaindu`s dismissal worsened with the executive left in a deadly dilemma for though, it could not be the correct decision to make, what is certain though up to this day is that something has to be done and it has to be done quickly.

Though Kaindu came out defending his tactics and admitting that he was tactically outwitted on the day which then forced him to employ the ancient offside trap this is merely an excuse considering the his back four averages an age of 34 and was going to be nonetheless blunt against a young, energetic attack of Dynamos who, had it not been for Ariel Sibanda could have netted half a dozen.

What more of the fact that Kaindu though a former Bosso son, is seemingly experimenting with the team as seen by his tactics which are contrary to the team`s tradition. "It's simple with Highlanders. Just like Zimbabwe Saints and Dynamos, they were strong on wing play and once the dazzling winger’s excited fans, no team could stop Highlanders on their day. That tradition is no more, they are playing at the centre and failing to get supporters cheering," said Muguyo a renowned football legend.

Also as spotted by Robson Sharuko, one of the best sports journalists in the country ad surprisingly many fans, over the last outings between the two teams Highlanders concedes from the right flank yet he still sticks with his defence of Dumisani Ndlovu, Eric Mudzingwa and Innocent Mapuranga when they are boring slow and leave all the hard work to Bruce Kangwa while the rest chase shadows.

Though action is required swiftly , the greatest danger is that the executive at Highlanders fears is of making the decision based on emotions and not logic as most fans are calling for the disbandment of the whole team and its technical department with most calling for Rahman Gumbo to take over the reins at Bosso with the junior teams as the foundation for the rebuilding phase but as it stands it seems too early to press the panic button.

Kaindu`s last chance at redemption will be against a struggling How Mine in the Chibuku Super Cup this Saturday where he looks to win back the hearts of not only his paymasters but also the legends and fans of Highlanders who, in majority, are calling for his scalp.

Despite the poor performance on the day what is indeed certain is that the executive has to act quickly before it returns to the mid table team it had become before Kaindu`s hopeful, but blunt takeover from the then current gaffer at Amahlolanyama.

In his 3 year tenure at Highlanders Kaindu has so far managed to win one trophy out of a possible 5 excluding the league championship were he came a cropper on both occasions with only the 23 match unbeaten record in his maiden season the only thing to draw out of 3 of his campaigns including this one which might as well be his last or third time lucky for him.

As calls for his removal worsened on Saturday what the public has to be reminded is that no one who is on the waiting list is more qualified than Kaindu and there is no need to make any rush decisions for he seems to have a long term plan for the club as he is a huge fan of the junior policy structures at the club which brought up his duo of Peter Moyo and Milton Ncube before he became yet another victim of the ABSA exodus. 

 

Highlanders has not been able to beat Dynamos their archrivals in open play for the last nine years in all competitions and the defeat on Saturday was the fourth in a short space of 9 months and what greatly hurt the Highlanders` family was not necessarily the defeat but the manner in which it came in whereby they showed no resistance therefore sustaining the comments made by dynamos Chairman Kenny Mubaiwa during the pre-match press conference that they (Highlanders) were merely their `wives`.

The action taken by Bosso to let KK, as he is popularly known, save his soul is applaud able for if he fails to save himself then his dismissal if still necessary, would be merely by mutual consent as it also would have a bearing on the teams championship campaign which might also be his gate pass to the hearts of the skeptics fans who have had enough of his promising but fruitless game.