Thabo Senong lands FC Platinum job as South African coach returns to Zimbabwe

Thabo Senong has been appointed head coach of FC Platinum, marking the South African’s return to Zimbabwe just six months after a previous move to the country fell through.

FC Platinum, who are currently languishing in the bottom half of the league table with nine matches remaining, confirmed that Senong will take charge of the side after parting ways with former SuperSport United and Silver Stars winger Joel Luphahla.

“The club is pleased to announce the appointment of Thabo Senong as head coach, subject the completion of contractual and registration formalities,” read a statement from the club, which is based in Zvishavane and is one of Zimbabwe’s leading teams.

Senong back in Zimbabwe after aborted Highlanders spell

Earlier this year, Senong had agreed to become head coach of Bulawayo giants Highlanders and travelled to Zimbabwe to start the role.

However, he left without taking charge of a competitive match after Benjani Mwaruwari was instead handed the Highlanders job, with his appointment driven through the club’s benefactor. That development effectively ended Senong’s short-lived stint before it had properly begun and saw him return to South Africa.

Despite that experience, the former South Africa Under-20 coach has now opted for another opportunity north of the border, this time with FC Platinum, as he looks to revive the fortunes of a club that has slipped down the standings this season.

Zimbabwe emerges as regional destination for coaches

Senong’s move underscores the growing pull of Zimbabwean football within the COSAFA (Council of Southern Africa Football Associations) region.

In recent months, Zimbabwe has become an increasingly attractive market for coaches and players, second only to South Africa in the region, largely because many clubs pay salaries in United States dollars.

With remuneration structured in hard currency, leading Zimbabwean teams are able to offer financial packages that are superior to those available in South Africa’s Motsepe Foundation Championship and comparable with the lower salary range in the DStv Premiership.

A small group of clubs in Zimbabwe – including Scottland and Hardrock – are understood to be in a position to pay coaches around USD10,000 per month (approximately R168,000), putting them in direct competition with some South African top-flight sides for coaching talent.

Player wages driving homeward moves

The financial landscape has also had a significant impact on player movement, with top earners in Zimbabwe reportedly receiving annual packages of around R2.5 million.

Those figures help explain why several high-profile Zimbabwean players who had been based abroad or in neighbouring leagues have chosen to return home in recent times.

Among those to head back to the Zimbabwean domestic scene are Prince Dube, Washington Arubi, Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Emmanuel Jalai and Gerald Takwara, all of whom have been attracted by the improved earning potential and stability on offer.

Senong will now step into that increasingly competitive environment at FC Platinum, tasked with lifting the club away from the lower reaches of the table in the closing stages of the league campaign, once his contractual and registration processes are completed.