Sua Flamingoes’ new gaffer

Ropes in Gumbo to replace late Major Bright

Club confident Gumbo will bring good results

Gumbo is capable to build strong team- Analyst

BAKANG TIRO

editors@thepatriot.co.bw

Sua Pan based Botswana Football League (BFL) debutants, Sua Flamingoes, have appointed veteran Zimbabwean gaffer Rahman Gumbo as their head coach, replacing Major David Bright who succumbed to Covid-19 soon after joining the club.

In an interview on Friday, Sua Flamingoes Public Relations Officer (PRO) Lazarus Mafa said the club is confident of causing upset and leave no stone unturned during its premier league stay. Enthusiastic Mafa said that the team is assured of impressive run after hiring the experienced Zimbabwean tactician, Gumbo who previously won silver with Township Rollers and Gaborone United. “We were very saddened as the club when we lost Major David Bright before he could execute his plans for the team. Fakude was a big catch for us and we dearly miss him. But in Gumbo we are very happy that we found a perfect replacement, a veteran, a winner like Bright,” said Mafa.

Pressed over why Sua Flamingoes preferred Gumbo instead of local gaffers, Mafa said he is the right man. “There are some of the local and foreign coaches who shown interest for the job who I cannot mention their names. The team chose Gumbo because of our vision to become winners. He is very experienced and knows the local football very well. He is the right man for the vision that the management, sponsors and our key stakeholders being supporters have too,” he buttressed.

Mafa said that the team’s target is not fight relegation in the premier but to be among the best.

He insisted that Gumbo is capable of turning the club into a force to reckon with given quality of players that are available adding the new coach is also at liberty to bring in his new players.

Meanwhile, Sua Flamingoes spokesperson said the nullification of 2020\21 premier league season dealt a heavy blow to the club because it is financially constrained just like other teams. He said as a new team, they are faced with the challenges to secure sponsors who can bring in much needed revenue to meet the administration costs as well as paying players’ salaries. “The lack of the competitive football is affecting us negatively. The players are not camp as we speak because there are no funds to keep them. Players are at their respective homes and we will only recall them for camp when football resumes. This is bad for our country at all,” he said.

Football analyst Mmoni Segopolo said that Gumbo is a very experienced acquisition for Sua Flamingoes. He said Gumbo will be instrumental in building the team into a powerhouse but said that it will be interesting to see if he can stamp authority and win trophies with the smaller team like Sua. “He is a good coach and history in terms of winning trophies speaks for him. He coached the Zimbabwean national team and big clubs such as GU and Rollers. At that time he had all the big name players and with his experience he can build a strong team from Sua youngsters,” he said.

“Sua Flamingoes wishes to announce the appointment of Rahman Allen Gumbo to the position of head coach on a two-year contract. On behalf of all stakeholders, we welcome and wish him a pleasant stay,” reads a statement on Sua Flamingoes Facebook page introducing coach Gumbo.

Gumbo coached Zimbabwean top sides being Caps United, Highlanders, FC Platinum and Chicken Inn.