Brazilian coach eyes Highlanders top job

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Brazilian coach Edson Silva Dido has emerged as one of the 12 coaches who have submitted their CVs for the vacant Highlanders coaching job.

Brazilian coach Edson Silva Dido has emerged as one of the 12 coaches who have submitted their CVs for the vacant Highlanders coaching job.

BY MICHAEL MADYIRA

Bosso are looking for a new coach and have so far received 12 applications that include three Europeans, one South African, a Brazilian with the rest being Zimbabweans.

It is the interest from South America that has thrown the bid to replace Kelvin Kaindu into an intriguing contest.

Dido, a former Flamengo and Santos player, also holds Dutch citizenship.

His last job was a one-year stint with the Bangladesh national team in 2009 and his other coaching spells include the Vietnam and Chinese Taipei national sides.

At club level, the 52-year-old coached Israeli outfit Maccabi Holon in 1996.

If appointed, he would be the first Latin American to take charge of Bosso.

Highlanders chief executive officer Ndumiso Gumede declined to confirm the Brazilian’s application.

“All I can say is the 12 who have applied so far are big names and their VCs show depth. Our human resources sub-committee has already whittled down those they think should be interviewed. We will start interviews in a week’s time. Recommendations would then be made to the club executive,” said Gumede.

But sources within the club’s human resources sub-committee revealed the Dido’s interest.

“We have 12 coaches who have submitted their CVs so far. Edson Silva Dido who was once head coach of the Bangladesh national team is one of the applicants. Others include a Dutch who once worked in Tunisia and is one of the three Europeans whom we are currently scrutinising their CVs,” the sources said.

Two weeks ago, there were media reports linking Scottish coach Desmond Bulpin with Bosso.

Former AmaZulu coach Craig Rosslee is believed to be the South African who has handed in his CV at number 50 Robert Mugabe Way. Since the turn of the millennium, Highlanders have employed four foreign coaches, the late English gaffer Eddie May, two Zambians Kelvin Kaindu and the late Dick Chama as well as Mohamed Fathi from Egypt.

Only May landed the league title and he did so twice with the other three coaches finding it tough at Bosso.

Gumede said they are not in a hurry to appoint the new coach. “After recommendations to the executive by the human resources guys, we will start talking to the coach but that is not a quick process due to negotiations,” said Gumede.

“You know issues to do with salaries and other demands are vital to consider. If it is a foreign coach he might probably demand air tickets to fly home after every six months. Because of that process, the new coach might start work at the end of January.”

Gumede said Mark Mathe would begin pre-season with the team mid-January while waiting for the new coach.

“The technical team that finished the season with Highlanders will have their contracts ending on July 31 but that does not mean they are mercenaries who read their contracts to the full stop. They are still our own sons,” he said.

Mathe was interim coach after Kaindu resigned in October.

Bosso’s new coach would be hard-pressed to bring the league to Bulawayo just like his four immediate predecessors Madinda Ndlovu, Fathi, Mkhupali Masuku and Kaindu who however failed.

Kaindu endured much of the pre-ssure especially under Dynamos’ relentless dominance over them.

Highlanders have not won the championship since 2006 under Mathembe Ndlovu’s charge.

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