Former Jose Mourinho’s assistant under fire in Zimbabwe’s PSL
Jose Mourinho’s former assistant coach Baltermar Brito has been thrust under fire at Highlanders FC in Zimbabwe’s PSL.
After a blistering start to the 2023 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League season, the Bulawayo giants have lost steam.
Highlanders FC are on a downward spiral since their 19-game unbeaten run was ended by Norman Mapeza‘s FC Platinum on 26 August. Yet despite their resources, Highlanders have been way off the pace since that stinging loss. And they have sadly won once in their last six matches.
They lost to FC Platinum, Chicken Inn FC, and Hwange FC while beating Yadah Stars 2-0 plus a share of the spoils with Sheasham.
Their match with Dynamos was abandoned due to crowd trouble, at a time they were 2-0 down.
WHY BALTEMAR BRITO IS UNDER FIRE AT HIGHLANDERS
And their latest 3-0 defeat at the hands of Simba Bhora on Saturday has all but left some quarters demanding Baltermar Brito’s sacking.
This was one of those games that they did not afford to lose, and ideally needed to win, if they were to make ground on the team above them.
As a result, they fell down the pecking order to third position, with 45 points, six shy of leaders Ngezi Platinum. FC Platinum leaped to second position.
Sadly, Zimbabwe’s PSL title bid is slowly slipping away from Jose Mourinho’s former assistant coach. The 71-year-old doubles as the Zimbabwe national team coach on an interim basis.
BALTERMAR BRITO BLAMES HIS PLAYERS’ ATTITUDE
Baltermar Brito however blames his players for poor attitude but insists they still stand a chance to win the title.
“Sometimes, it’s about the attitude of the players, their mentality in the game. You tell them what to do and they don’t do it and you end up losing,” Brito said. “But we keep believing. Ngezi lost against FC Platinum and we also lost. It’s a tough competition.
Eight games remain before Zimbabwe’s PSL season ends and it remains to be seen if the Highlanders end their title drought. They last won the Zimbabwean title in 2006, then under coach Methembe Ndlovu.
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