shloboe boe
Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Highlanders and Caps United coach Mark Mathe has returned home after parting ways with Mozambican side UD Songo.
Mathe was working as assistant to British coach Mark Harrison, with whom he had also shared the bench at CAPS United and Harare City in the domestic Castle Lager Premiership.
The duo was contracted by UD Songo on a one-year deal but they have had to part ways again after the club could not extend their contracts beyond December 31.
UD Songo finished second to champions Black Bulls in the title race.
“Together with Mark Harrison, we ended the league race in second position just two points behind the eventual champions Black Bulls.
“We also managed to get into the final of the Mozambique Cup where we lost 2-1 in extra-time to Ferroviário de Maputo,” said Mathe.
The pair joined UD Songo in January last year and immediately embarked on a pre-season tour to South Africa where they played the likes of Orlando Pirates, Polokwane City, Sekhukhune and University of Pretoria.
The three-time Mozambican champions are home to Zimbabweans Tinotenda Muringai and Emmanuel Mandiranga.
“We largely worked with the players who did duty for UD Songo in the 2023 season and made just one new signing.
“We also worked with a couple of Mozambican national team players like Elias Pelembe, Infren Matola, Lau King and Bheu Januario.
“Harrison and I vastly changed and improved the team on and off the field. The team was very competitive and dominant in terms of play and in the process managed to win away games in provinces like Nacala, Pemba and even in Maputo which always eluded the team in the 2023 football season,” said Mathe.
UD Songo finished the season with 49 points after winning 14 games from the 22 outings. They drew seven and lost one, while the league champions Black Bulls ended on 51 points.
This was an improvement from the 2023 season when they finished fifth.
UD Songo recently announced the departure of Harrison and his assistant.
“UD Songo would like to thank coach Mark Harrison for his commitment and dedication during his time with us. Under your leadership, we lived remarkable moments and learned valuable lessons.
“We wish you much success in your future challenges and reiterate our gratitude for your contribution to the history of the club,” the club’s statement read in part.
However, Harrison was not happy that the Tete-based team announced his departure without first formally informing him.
“They haven’t even communicated to me, which is highly disappointing,” he told Pan-Africa Football.
“You don’t act like that. At the end of the day, the common decency is that you pick up the phone and say: thank you for your time at the club, unfortunately, we are not renewing your contract.
“That is the major problem with African football, but we move on. As I said before, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be there next year anyway, but I would expect better protocol,” he said.
Siphakeme .Mnindwa
