BONGANI MALUNGA
Township Rollers have officially parted ways with Argentine tactician Rodolfo Zapata, the club confirmed the news on Sunday. Zapata, who had signed a short term deal with the club, left the club a day after their 3-0 defeat against Orapa United in the Orange FA Cup final.
Zapata’s position was always going to be determined by meeting the club’s targets of winning the league, the Mascom Top 8 and the Orange FA Cup. The former Gaborone United coach only managed to win the BTC Premiership, he was knocked out by his former club GU in the semifinals of the Mascom Top 8 and lost the Orange Cup.
Accomplishing only a third of his deliverables proved costly for the coach as he has not convinced the Rollers hierarchy to prolong his stay. Rollers hinted a few weeks ago that they were set to hold talks with the coach regarding his future and sources believe that if he had won the Orange FA Cup he could have stood a chance to, at the very least, be considered for a long term deal alongside other prospective coaches.
Rollers released an official statement on Sunday evening stating that they had opted against offering Zapata a new deal. “Township Rollers FC management and executive committee have decided not to renew the contract of Rodolfo Zapata, hereby we part ways with him and wish him all the best for all his future endeavours,” the club told the media and public at large. Prior to his Rollers tenure, Zapata was in charge of Kenyan club AFC Leopards but left the club after only five months in charge.