How Portuguese coach Nilton Terreso fared at Bulawayo Chiefs 

Portuguese coach Nilton Terreso has left Zimbabwe’s Castle Lager Premier Soccer League side Bulawayo Chiefs following the expiry of his work permit in the country.

The club decided against renewing his permit although his contract lapses on 31 December, with indications that the two parties will continue working hand in glove on a online basis.

The club prefers his contract to run concurrently with his work permit.

So much was expected when Terreso joined the ambitious Bulawayo based-side in October last year as he assembled what appeared to be a formidable team on paper.

With the help of Mark Mathe who was the assistant coach at the time, the 43-year-old recruited the Moyo twins, Kelvin and Elvis formerly with Chippa United.

He also signed ex-Simba SC forward Perfect Chikwende and national team linkman Kelvin Madzongwe.

Along the way, Terreso also added former Bidvest Wits and Sekhukune United left-back McClive Phiri to his team.

DID NOT LIVE UP TO EXPECTATIONS

Unfortunately results eluded him as the highly rated players failed to live upto their biling albeit a jumpstart to the season where they accounted for the scalp of the defending champions, FC Platinum.

In total Terreso presiding over 30 league games where they won 11 times, got 9 draws and 10 losses.

And with four games remaining before the season ends, Chiefs are ninth on the log standings and will fancy their chances of claiming a place in the top eight.

Arguably Terreso’s best achievement at the helm of the club is helping them reach the semi-finals of the coveted Chibuku Super Cup for the first time since their maiden in 2018.

They face Black Rhinos on Sunday in the what promises to be a tough semi-final at Mandava stadium in Zvishavane.

According to the club, the former Head of Sports Science at Cardiff City FC academy, Terreso, will be providing plans and tactics for the remaining matches online.

“The coach has previously made a number of trips to Europe to attend his Uefa Pro-Licence classes and the previous arrangements will be stuck to.

“He will continue to provide the training programmes to the technical team and plan for upcoming games. 

“There’s nothing amiss with the arrangement but it is purely what both parties agreed on.

“We saw the technical team following Terroso’s guidance and programmes when he was away and we trust that the same process will be followed,” Bulawayo Chiefs media officer Thulani ‘Javas’ Sibanda is quoted by the Chronicle.

Meanwhile assistant coach Thulani ‘Tuts’ Sibanda will preside over the remaining matches.