Highlanders Media
THE club yesterday welcomed its new technical manager, Baltemar Joe De Oliveira Brito. The new head coach comes all the way from Portugal to coach the Bulawayo football giants, Highlanders FC. He came with his assistant, coach Antonio Joao Martins Leao Torres.
Brito will be taking over from Mandla Mpofu who was let go by the club two weeks ago. Both Brito and his assistant Torres have impressive CVs, which are expected to bring more wins for the team. He has worked alongside the current head coach of AS Roma’s Jose Mourinho as his assistant for Inter Milan FC, FC Porto and Chelsea FC between 2004 and 2007. In his football career he has won two UEFA Champions League titles, one UEFA Cup, two English Premier League titles, two Portuguese League titles, two Italian Championships, and one FA cup among other cups in his coaching career.
In a presser held at the Highlanders FC offices, Brito told journalists that he aims to restore the giant status of the team.
“I hope to fit well in the squad and work together to restore the team to its glory”, said Brito.
His assistant, Antonio Joao Martins Leao Torres said their job as coaches is to ensure that they fix the team.
“If the team is not winning it is because they are sick and we are here to fix them. It’s not going to be an overnight job, there will be a lot of trainings every week’’ said Torres.
The coach will be steering the boys up to December 2023. He is expected to kick start his career by presiding over the Highlanders FC vs Harare FC match which will be on the 5th of June at Barbour fields stadium.
Brito will be working alongside Joel Luphahla, who has been serving as the interim coach following the dismissal of Mandla Mpofu. Joel Luphahla will return his position as assistant coach. Speaking to journalists on Thursday on one of the club’s pre match pressers, Joel Luphahla said the boys were ready for the Sunday match.
“The boys are fully prepared and in good shape, I am optimistic that we’re going to collect points, this game.
“We want to go on this season break with maximum points” said Luphahla.
The Interim coach said the team had been unlucky with a lot of injuries this season.
“We have been so unlucky that a lot of injuries have been happening at camp, hindering our progress and making it difficult for us to have a consistent team.
“On our injury bill we have Divine Mhindirira who got injured at ZPC Kariba” said Luphahla.
The Sunday match against Harare FC will be the last before the team goes on its season break.
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