After Tuesday’s 0-0 draw with Victors F.C in Kakindu, SC.VILLA director of football Mr. Joseph Kanaaba came up with a statement that stated “As a board, we have agreed that if we fail to beat Express F.C in a local derby on Friday, that will be the end of the road for coach Zivo, for Villa fans, corporate sponsors and the management, we are dissapointed with the performance of the team”. He continued, “even beating
Express will only buy him just a week or two of his remaining time at Villa Park“. If things turn out as expected, Zivo will be the second super league coach to be fired after Matia Lule was suspended last week by KCC F.C though inside sources indicate he was indirectly sacked.
ZIVO’S TIME AT VILLA PARK.
He took over in December after the club sacked Sula Kato. In his first game, he beat a non league side Kagululyengo 6-0 in Bell Uganda cup, this was followed by 3-0 wins over Utoda F.C, 1-0 win to Express and 4-0 win over Gulu utd and then 2-1 win over Utoda in the return leg of the league. Every body hailed him as a saviour of the club but trouble began when he changed from his attacking game that had seen him trounce his earlier opponents with a lot of easy. He drew 0-0 with KCC F.C in one of the poorest games of his reign, lost to URA in both the league and Uganda Cup, drew 1-1 with Bunamwaya and lost to Masaka L.C in the league, he still drew with Simba S.C and Proline in the league. Within the current league, he has just lost once but drew 5 and won one game. This has left Villa in the bottom five of the league with seven games played with merely 3 goals scored conceding 2 in the proccess.
WHY ZIVO HAS FAILED TO DELIVER AS EXPECTED:
In the first place, he was away on holiday during the transfer window an implication that he had less input in signings. Speaking to him yesterday after the game, he told kawowo.com that out of the 10 players Villa signed, he had only two of them on the list he forwarded to Management but was surprised by the faces he found at Villa park. Interestingly, he told me that even the two that were bought are not playing just because the administration has not done enough. Asked who the two are, he frankly said “Kisalita and Etumba“. Despite the excuses, Zivo’s tinkering with the team has also cost the club and then consistently fielding players like Edrisar Kaaye and Fred Muhumuzza yet they are not delivering. In addition, his fixed 4-3-3 system seems not to suit his current crop of players but has failed to change. Besides, he plays Patrick Ssenfuka on the wings yet he is a proven central midfielder. When i told him this, he surprised me by saying that its the first time he has heard that and accepted that he knows less about Ugandan players. “I gave them my list of players i wanted and instead signed others. URA players have been together for many years but i have a new team and most of these boys are young, playing for Villa is just enough pressure for them. When i came here, they told me to build team that will compete in CAF champions league in the next five years but now they want a league title. I told them to buy experienced players but they didn’t, even if i go, the new coach will still have the same players“, said Zivo. The coach who recently said he was eying long term success has a record standing at 5 wins, 4 losses and 10 draws.
WHAT NEXT AFTER ZIVO?
Inside sources confirm that Sam Timbe will be the man to take over the hot seat at Villa. If it happens, this won’t be his first stint at Villa park as he coached the club 6 years back winning the CECAFA club championship in 2005. He is a good coach but will also need time to settle at the club. There is no doubt the crop of players at Villa park is talented but also need time to gel. The sacking of Zivo may not answer every question because despite taking responsibility, he is not the man to entirely blame for poor performance but may be. Fingers crossed.
