Dawson tipped to lead Sables

existed in the previous structures though a few surprises might be witnessed.
The unveiling ceremony was initially set to take place yesterday morning at the union offices but there were some issues that needed attention in the Sable’s technical contracts.

Leading candidate Brendon Dawson could not travel to the capital on Monday.
And by late yesterday, the Sables committee were locked up in a meeting trying to find a way through the sticking points.
Dawson is largely expected to bounce back as the coach in a modified set-up that will see him having two assistant coaches.

The technical team will select a team manager of their choice.
The former Sables captain’s appointment as head coach is subject to him accepting the proposed contract and the assistant coaches that have been proposed by the committee today.
Both Dawson and his former assistant, Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge, are expected to be rewarded for their fine performance in the Africa Cup and the Victoria Cup tournaments where they finished unbeaten in both tournaments.

It was this performance by the Sables that saw them become the highest movers on the International Rugby Board World Rankings in 2011.
They rose to their highest ranking since the inception of the grading system.
And it is for this reason that the ZRU and the Sables committee led by Harare businessman, Dumile Moyo, are set to express their confidence in the duo.

However, controversy has been surrounding the manager’s post that Noddy Kanyangarara is interested in.
Some sections of the rugby fraternity feel that Kanyangara should not be part of the incoming technical team having been hit by fraud charges involving about US$3 600 in 2004.
Kanyangarara was accused by the then vice-president Losson Mutongwiza of failing to account for US$3 600 in his capacity as national team manager.

Kanyangarara also sits on the Sables’ committee that has the responsibility of selecting the technical team yet he is also interested in one of the posts in the technical set-up.
But according to section 25.4 (b) of the ZRU constitution, Kanyangarara is expected to “. . . absent himself from discussions of such matter (conflict of interest) and shall not be entitled to vote in respect of such matter.

“If the director votes the vote shall not be counted. In the event of any uncertainty as to whether it is necessary for a director to absent himself from discussions and refrain from voting, the issue should be immediately determined by vote of the National Executive Board, or if this is not possible, the matter shall be adjourned or deferred.”

The women’s side also has an anomaly their committee is expected to correct after a costly blunder by last year’s committee, led by ZRU vice-president and banker Aisha Tsimba, who appointed a physiotherapist as head of technical for the Pangolins.

Abigail Govere is, however, most likely to return as the women’s coach.
Having stood in the shoes of Liam Milddleton, Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsama’s fate as the Cheetahs coach hangs in the balance as he faces stiff competition for the job from former Cheetahs player, Andy Ferreira, among others.

But former ZRU president, Bruce Hobson, has a good chance of making it back as the team manager.