Gunners shut down reports of Nare’s rift with fans

BONGANI MALUNGA

Extension Gunners’ management has shut down rumours of a rift between the club’s coach Daniel ‘Chicco’ Nare and their supporters. Reports surfacing this week had suggested that some of the club’s supporters were planning to pressure the club into firing the experienced coach.
The club’s supporters were reportedly disappointed by the club’s shortcomings in terms of Mascom Top 8 qualification, they finished ninth after failing to build on a promising start that had seen them regarded as title challengers.
Nare took over when the club was struggling for form and managed to steady the ship but missed out on a Mascom Top 8 berth for next season, his club was only four points away from eighth placed Police XI. The former BMC (now named Gilport Lions) coach started his tenure in October last year, he lost the first four games but the club’s form improved towards the end of the year.
Gunners recorded better results in the second round of the league, they won five games, recorded four defeats and four draws, they were in contention for a top eight spot until the final few weeks of the season.
The supporters reportedly wanted more despite the club’s failure to strengthen during the January transfer window. The club’s public declaration of their intention to win silverware last season and their subsequent failure to do so has been cited as the cause of unrest among the supporters.
Gunners’ Public Relations Officer Edwin Mabasa dismissed the reports in an interview with Gazette Sport. “Those are just rumours, time wasting rumours to be exact. We should not waste time discussing them. Supporters would never go to the extent of recommending a coach’s firing or hiring, it is not their mandate. They are valuable and we consider them an integral part of the Gunners family, they have never made such demands,” the Gunners PRO stated.
Meanwhile, Gunners have also revealed that they are yet to finalize the transfer of Township Rollers leftback Otlantshekela Mooketsi, the club is close to signing him on a one year loan deal. Both clubs will split the payment percentage of his monthly wages but they have not yet reached a consensus on the matter, once the agreement is reached the deal is likely to be concluded, he has already represented Gunners in two pre-season friendly games against Police XI and his former club BDF XI.