- Coach signs 2 year contract
- Club maintains hands off plea on Tumisang Orebonye
BAPATI MMOTLANYANE
Gaborone United coach Rodolfo Zapata has finally put the rife speculations on the uncertain future after yet another trophy-less season for United, Information relayed to this publication is that the coach and the club management have amicably extended their contract by two more years.
According to a close source United were very indecisive about the future of the coach as the management was divided on holding on to the coach prior to the end of his contract in May.
In an exclusive interview with Gazette Sport the General Secretary of the club City Senne confirmed that they have extended Zapata’s stay at the club for two more years. “We are delighted to confirm that we have penned a new deal with the coach to be in charge of the team for the next two years,” stated Senne.
This publication has it on good authority that Zapata has been given clear mandate to win silverware next season after crunch talks with the top brass of the club as they promised to hold their end of the bargain by fulfilling and acting on his recommendations for next season.
“Yes the coach might have failed to win the league title, but there are a lot of positives to pick from his 2 year spell, now that we have identified our style of play under him and managed to promote a couple of youngsters to the first team it is very much important that we keep him to steer the ship especially after finishing in the top five of the league in much bad season on the standards of a club of United’s caliber,” explained Senne. He added that they have drawn up the recommendations made up by the coach.
Reports suggest that the executive committee is still working on the amendment of the constitution which best suits their model of privatization which they are hopeful will be adopted in the coming crucial Annual General Meeting.
Senne revealed that the court case between the current executive committee and the club supporters will continue this month and hopefully the case will be sorted before the AGM to allow a swift process of privatization if members agree upon the model. With the issues of club licensing drawing close the club will be hoping to reach an agreement with their former main bankroller Nicholas Zakhem who has always shown interest in taking charge.
Meanwhile, the club is said to be eager to keep Tumisang Orebonye who has attracted a lot of interest.
Senne dismissed the links stating that the club is prepared to tie the 18 year old till the end of next season. “Orebonye is our player and we are confident that we will soon reach an agreement with him because a couple of clubs in South Africa have shown keen interest in signing him though they have requested to be undisclosed pending the negotiations, if a South African move does not materialize I can assure you he is staying,” stated Senne.