There is loud silence from Zesco United on the whereabouts of head coach Zlatko Krmpotic.

Krmpotic was absent at Tuesday’s Copperbelt derby clash between Team Ya Ziko and Power Dynamos that ended 1-1 in Ndola.

Krmpotic’s name was struck off the official match returns list for Tuesday’s game, first by ink, before a revised copy was retyped with deputy trainer Tenant Chembo appearing as head coach.

Zesco officials have declined to comment on Krmpotic’s absence prompting speculation over his future barely nine months after his appointment.

“I would have loved to say a word or two but that is an administrative issue,” Chembo said in a post-match interview at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

Zesco laboured to reach the quarterfinals of the 2017 CAF Confederation Cup where they were eliminated by this year’s finalists SuperSport United.

Zesco, who are currently 3rd on the league table with six games left, even failed to defend the Barclays Cup where they were ejected at the semifinal stage by Napsa Stars.

However, Krmpotic began his tenure on a promising note when Zesco won the season-opening Samuel ‘Zoom’ Ndhlovu Memorial Charity Shield on April 1.