Baltemar Brito, Highlanders coach has given his assistant coaches Madinda Ndlovu and Joel Luphahla the freedom to implement their own ideas in his absence at the weekend.
Highlanders take on Cranborne Bullets in a Castle Lager Premier Soccer League match at Barbourfields on Sunday and Brito will miss the match to preside over a Warriors training camp in Harare.Brito travelled to Harare yesterday with senior men’s national fitness trainer Antonio Torres leaving the former Bosso stars to take charge.
The Bulawayo giants seek to turn their fortunes after a recent bad spell that has seen them drop from position one on the log table to third, with Ngezi Platinum and FC Platinum at the top.Following a run of 19 games unbeaten, Highlanders have won one match in the last seven with a draw and five defeats.
And with eight game left, if that bad spell were to continue, the Bulawayo giants’ title hopes are dashed.But Brito prays for the better.
“The preparations for this game are different as you guys know we will be on national duty. We have been working closely as the technical team since Tuesday to prepare for this game. Coach Madinda (Ndlovu) and coach Joel (Luphahla) will take charge of the team on game day. We have been sharing ideas to prepare for the game but knowing that I will be absent. We work together, we trust each other and preparations have been on well; we hope the team collects three points in this game and everyone will be happy,” Brito said.The Brazilian-born gaffer urged the fans to rally behind Ndlovu and Luphahla and blame should be on him for an undesirable result.“What I want to make clear is that I will be absent. I have full trust in my technical staff that will be in charge of the game. I don’t want the coach to be like a PlayStation doing only what I have told them to do. I give them the freedom and have the confidence for them to create the plan and find the solutions for the team and if we win, I want our supporters to support and applaud them. If we don’t win I want the people to blame one person and that is me. I know they will do their best to put up the best performance,” Brito said.
Source:NewsDay
