Chimodzi to advise Silver

Struggling Super League defending champions Silver Strikers have engaged their legend Young Chimodzi Snr in an advisory role in a desperate bid to turn around the team’s fortunes.

The club’s general secretary Mike Tembo and Chimodzi himself confirmed the development, saying it is a temporary move.

Tembo also disclosed that Chimodzi was offered a full-time role as a coach, but turned it down due to lack of stability in the Bankers camp.

Said Tembo: “We have engaged him on temporary basis to help the coaching panel with technical advice, we have no [formal] contract with him.

“Young is part of the Silver family having steered the club to greater heights during his time as coach and player and we felt that with his vast experience and knowledge of the game, he could help breathe a new lease of life into the team.”

He added: “In fact, it was him who recommended the hiring of the current coaching panel after he turned down a permanent coaching offer. One of the reasons he gave for turning down the offer was that the technical staff positions at Silver are not stable whereby coaches are removed on frequent basis.

“The other reasons he gave was that accepting the offer would have been in conflict with his running contract with government as football development officer.”

Tembo said Chimodzi was hired last week and would be in charge as long as his services would be required.

Chimodzi said apart from offering technical advice to coach Stain Chirwa and his deputy Francis Songo, his other task will be to help in building a strong reserve side.

The Bankers are battling a severe form slump and before yesterday’s fixtures, they were on sixth position with 22 points from 15 games. They had won six, drawn four and lost five.

Chimodzi delights in the glory of being one of the best players to emerge from the Bankers camp where he also developed as one of the best coaches on the local scene.

He watched Silver 2-1 loss to Blantyre United in a league match at Kamuzu Stadium on Saturday.