Premiership returnees Shabanie Mine have settled for Taku Shariwa after failing to tie down Mandla Mpofu who has joined Bulawayo City.

Shabanie Mine were ditched by Tendai Chikuni who helped them gain promotion into the premiership after failing to agree with the club on a new contract.  The Chinda Boys then announced Mpofu as their new coach three weeks ago but the National U20 coach failed to turn up because of some contractual disagreements with the club and later joined Amakhosi.

The club on Friday then settled for Shariwa who was with relegated side Mutare City last year.

The Shabanie Mine executive was coy on the appointment of Shariwa but sources within the club say the young coach has been offered a two year contract.

“Shariwa has been offered a two year contract but because of the differences within the executive after the Mandla debacle they don't want to make it public now. Of all the aspiring coaches, Shariwa, had the least demands and also he made himself available to start work while his contract is being settled," said the source.

Shariwa is already looking ahead to reviving the fortunes of Shabanie Mine calling his appointment a match made in heaven'.

“This is a great club with a great history and passionate supporters. Things have not been going well for them but the good thing is that they are ambitious and I am also ambitious. This is a match made in heaven. So with the ambition I have and that of the club, I think we will go far. But I admit that there is still a lot of work that still needs to be done because we are behind schedule in terms of training," said Shariwa.

Shabanie Mine who won the Central Soccer League Division One championship last season, are the only team still to start preparations for the 2017 season. Most of the players who were with the club last season are out of contract, while some followed Chikuni to Chapungu. The trials which were scheduled to take place last weekend failed to materialise following the snub by Mpofu. The trials are set to resume this weekend with Shariwa in charge.