Will Madira bag the MTN NFD best coach award?

Noel Munzabwa

WILL promotion-winning George Madira wrest the 2018/19 MTN National First Division coach of the year accolade?

After guiding Piggs Peak Black Swallows to the MTN National First Division title and promotion to the MTN Premier League of Eswatini last season, Madira believes he could win the Coach of the Year award at the forthcoming delayed league awards ceremony.

The Premier League of Eswatini, sponsor and conveners were due to meet this week to work and finalise logistics for the much awaited awards ceremony. The Zimbabwe-born coach has been waiting patiently like a farmer waiting for the rain in summer.

In an interview this week, Madira, who had returned from a brief South Africa visit,said he could not return home lest he misses on the glamour.

“I believe I played my part and created my probability to win the Coach of the Year award but it’s now in the conveners’ control on who will win it. I will accept any outcome but again it would not be proper for me to miss out on the glory if I am to win the award,” said Madira.

Should Madira bag it, he will become only the second Zimbabwean in four years to win after Tarisai Chingara in 2016 with Saul Chaminuka and Ikabort Masocha missing out as they were not members of the local coaches association.

Meanwhile, Madira is not sure if he would be staying at Piggs Peak Black Swallows despite “ineligibility” issues as he does not hold the mandatory Caf A License for the premiership dugout.

“I am yet to discuss my future with Piggs Peak Black Swallows with just days before my contract expires. I am aware of the mandatory Caf A requirement and it will be up to the club to decide on the future.

“After the expiry of the current contract I will be open to new offers anywhere else even back home in Zimbabwe. I am available even to work as an assistant in the premiership provided we cultivate a fertile working environment with the head coach,” said Madira.

Barring a miraculous change, the former Gunners premiership winning assistant coach George Madira will be headed for a winning exit from the Piggs Peak-based outfit as his work permit remains not renewed and is only in the country on a visitors’ visa.

Madira came within a day of missing his side Piggs Peak Black Swallows’ ultimate promotion to premiership and title winning after the expiry of his work permit a day before the deciding tie against City Warriors.

If anything, the expired work permit almost washed down the drain Madira’s tireless season effort and had been told on Friday that once he exited Eswatini he would not be able to re-enter the country — a result of a blunder within the club corridors.

To remain in the country legally and watch his boys through to gold, Madira had to exit Matsamo Border into South Africa’s Jeppes Reef then return on a 30-day visitor’s permit and as of Wednesday the club director, Charles Matsebula had not submitted Madira’s work permit extension application to the Home Affairs ministry.

Under normal circumstances, application for work permit renewal is done at least a month before expiry, something raising suspicion that failure to renew Madira’s work permit may have been a calculated move. Had it not been for a two-week break, promotion and title race could have been won before work permit expiry.

Taking from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet “parting is such a sweet sorrow, we meet to part and part to meet,” one is authoritatively sure the Swallows-Madira romance has run its course.
— @NoelMunzabwa

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