Bullets explain coach’s absence

Nyasa Big Bullets say their coach Callisto Pasuwa has not started work as he is attending to a sick son in his native Zimbabwe.

The People’s Team regrouped early this week in preparation for the 2019 season without the former Zimbabwe national team and Dynamos FC mentor.

Bullets chief executive officer (CEO) Fleetwood Haiya also said despite agreeing to a three-year deal, Pasuwa is yet to put pen to paper.

“We were expecting him to return on Monday, but during the week he phoned me, saying his son is ill and I have asked him to take his time and attend to the patient.

“We are now expecting him to arrive next Monday,” he said.

The Bullets CEO also played down the delay to conclude Pasuwa’s deal, insisting that everything is on course.

“As I said, in principle, we agreed almost everything pertaining to the deal, including the duration and the package and all that is remaining is to put pen to paper.

“At the time that we will be signing the contract that is when we will spell out the deliverables and targets,” he said.

The People’s Team boss also said the hiring of an assistant coach awaits Pasuwa’s return.

“We cannot turn to the issue of an assistant coach before we finalise the coach’s deal.

“So, once we are done with his contract then we can focus on the issue of an assistant coach.

“That is why even the review of the contracts for his backroom staff has not been done,” said Haiya.

Pasuwa could not be reached for comment, but his agent Gibson Mahachi said they were evaluating Bullets’ counter-offer.

“In the next one or two days we should have concluded. They tabled [Bullets] their offer and we sent our counter-offer and we are now looking into it,” he said.

Pasuwa joined Bullets in October last year with the mandate to win the TNM Super League title, a feat he achieved with a game to spare.

But during his short stint, Bullets suffered their only league loss to Masters Security.