- Victory places the Wading Birds at Position 12 on the log
- Caretaker coach Phakedi credited with the rare win
- But speculation persists ex-Rollers gaffer Kavazovic may take over
GAZETTE REPORTER
Botswana Premier League (BPL) side, Sua Flamingoes have won their second game of the season, their first after parting ways with their head coach Rahman Gumbo recently.
They fired Coach Gumbo on Tuesday last week owing to a string of poor results in the ongoing Botswana Premier League season.
The victory comes after the team had only amassed three points out of possible 18 finding themselves at the bottom of the log standings.
“Bafana Ba Letswai,” as they are popularly known in football circles, are now in position 12 after winning 2-0 against premier league rookies, Holy Ghost, over the weekend in Sowa Town.
The team was under the tutelage of the caretaker coach Kopano Phakedi.
In a post-match interview, Phakedi said the victory boosted his boys’ confidence going into the games that will follow.
“The boys did their best, hence credit must go to them because they restored our hope,” he said. “The boys were under pressure but they eventually turned the tables on their opponents.
“What is more important is that we focus on our next game because we have to catch up. We have spoken with our players and they are all in the right state of mind. They are always looking forward to winning the next game.”
The sacking of Gumbo came in the midst of speculation that the team was interested in the services of former Township Rollers and Jwaneng Galaxy coach Nikola Kavazovic.
However, Sua Flamingoes mouthpiece Lazarus Mafa has dismissed the allegations, stating that they haven’t decided on who will replace Gumbo.
“We have not agreed with any coach to take over the team yet, hence our announcement that Kopano Phakedi will be our interim coach and we are happy that he won his first game to put us at position 12 in the log standings,” Mafa said.
“We are still working around the clock internally, consulting on how to move forward in the best interests of the team’s progress.”
Even so, Gazette Sports can confirm that Kavazovic arrived in Sowa Town last Friday and was spotted at the stadium during Flamingoes’ game with Holy Ghost over the weekend.
Sources say he is on the verge of sealing a deal with the mining town outfit. He is expected to be on the stands again when the team takes on Orapa United at Itekeng Sports Complex on Saturday.