Highlanders Football Club coach Baltemar Brito is ‘unhappy’ with the club’s leadership that he believes is recruiting players without the buy in of the technical team.
By Bhorafrika
This comes after Bosso leadership’s failure to fulfill Brito’s wish to sign red-hot striker and leading top scorer, Obriel Chirinda from Bulawayo Chiefs.
After Chirinda’s failed move, the Highlanders executive has reportedly signed South African midfielder Thabo Zikode Khumalo.
This has not sat well with the Brazilian born Portuguese gaffer whose team is at the summit of the table, seven points clear of second placed Ngezi Platinum Stars.
The coach revealed that the player’s recruitment is not a result of scouting because the assessment period was not adequate for the technical team to make an informed decision.
“He is (Khumalo) a player that comes from our leadership, [•••] our employers, and we need to respect that.
“He is a player that was selected by the leadership.
“We assessed him in two or three sessions, and it’s hard to make a true assessment of a player in those few days,” said Brito.
Brito could be even more disappointed by the development because it comes right after the club’s failure to sign his deeply coveted striker choice Chirinda, or someone with similar attributes.
“We had our target and the leadership failed to get us our target.
“At least we expect the board to bring one player similar to our target in terms of characteristics,” he added.
Brito is clearly not [yet[ a fan of Khumalo.
It’s clear who makes transfer decisions at Highlanders, but it’s not clear if the latest recruit has the confidence of the coach after the three-day scouting period.
“The leadership wants to sign him, so we will see how it goes,” a seemingly disappointed Brito said.
Khumalo was seemingly signed more for his bloodline than his football capabilities, and Brito knows that.
The 27-year old great grandson of Lobengula once played for a second tier club in South Africa, Uthongathi FC. A name search on Google shows media presence only in Zimbabwe prior to the Highlanders move.
Problems at Highlanders?
Despite Highlanders’ unbeaten run and seven-point gap atop the table in the first half of the season, Brito has of late expressed disappointment with the club leadership.
Apart from the failed Chirinda chase, Brito recently bemoaned the absence of match analysts at the club.
If the club is to fail to maintain it’s impressive results in future, Brito has already pointed out the reasons to everyone who cares. Get out of jail free card.
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