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Mugove Chigada
Deputy Sports Editor
SCOTTLAND have reached an agreement with coach Norman Mapeza to be new coach to replace Tonderai Ndiraya.
Although the club is yet to officially confirm, a video posted by the club’s benefactor Wicknell Chivayo, shows the coach and his manager Gibson Mahachi shaking hands with club officials, including Chivhayo.
Mapeza, who waved goodbye to FC Platinum after their last game against Dynamos, was largely expected to join Hardrock before Thursday’s sudden turn of events.
“There are about 50 days (before the start of the new season). Fifty days to rest. Let me go and have time to fish,” Mapeza was quoted as saying after his last game for FC Platinum.
Early on Thursday, his manager Gibson Mahachi said he was not ready to comment on anything when reached for comment.
“When there is something, we will notify you,” he said.
But the Chivayo video confirmed the big surprise.
To add to the complex puzzle of coaches’ movements in PSL, Ndiraya’s departure from Scottland this week has alerted a number of clubs.
Ndiraya, who became the first coach to win two league titles in a row with two different clubs, have been linked with a return to Ngezi Platinum.
Although Ngezi Platinum have been mum on the future, particularly that of coach Takesure Chiragwi, chances are very high they will get a new coach and allow the current coach to join CAPS United.
“Ngezi did not want to destabilise their ship mid-season when CAPS United had already agreed terms with the coach.
“So the compensation issue that was just a way of keeping him at least upto to the end of the season. Now they have room to restrategise and make a decision,” said a source close to the Ngezi team.
“If Chiragwi leaves, the only viable move for now could be Ndiraya even though there are other names they could consider. Although a lot will be happening behind the scenes, their board will then have to meet to decide.”
Early this week, CAPS United released Ian Bakala and his technical team, indicating that they will be announcing their new coach this week.
“We are open to all possibilities, it could be a completely new team or a version of an old setup. We need to reassemble, but we will make a formal announcement once those decisions are final. You will only get the full details of the club’s plans after the appointment of the technical team, so to speak, from the official announcement,” chief executive Morton Dodzo said.
Meanwhile, FC Platinum, who announced the separation with Mapeza by mutual consent, is a club known for planning way in advance.
Although they have not announced anything in terms of Mapeza’s replacement, Joel Luphahla is favourite to take over at the former champions.
Zimpapers Sports Hub is aware Simba Bhora are already aware the coach will be moving on and they are also looking for a replacement.
Apart from Luphahla, another coach that is said to have been considered by FC Platinum is Zambian Kelvin Kaindu, but the Dynamos coach is highly likely to stay blue.
Inside sources at Dynamos have indicated that Kaindu’s condition to stay is stability.
“The Zambian is very clear about his future. Although he has already been approached by a couple of clubs, including Hardrock. He understands the DeMbare are fully behind him. His condition however is stability in 2025, and not these stories of players sometimes boycotting training over unpaid dues. If Dynamos offers that stability, the deal is final. But chances are also open that he will go,” said an official.
Online Reporter