Online Reporter
Tongai Mashonga
Zimpapers Sports Hub
NEW Kwekwe United gaffer Paul Chimalizeni isn’t here to be the nice guy.
He is here to fix a broken ship, even if it means tossing a few under performers overboard. After helping Simba Bhora lift the Premier Soccer League crown last season, Chimalizeni shocked many by swapping silverware for survival, taking over a Kwekwe United side tangled in a relegation fight.
But if you thought he came for vibes, think again.
“My immediate plan is to get the boys believing again. They need to have faith in themselves, it’s their duty to fight for this badge,” declared Chimalizeni.
And he’s not sugar-coating the crisis.
“Let’s be honest, some of these players aren’t PSL material. We need quality across all departments. My mission? Avoid relegation and build a team that can compete with the best.”
The coach is already working behind the scenes to bring in his kind of players.
“I can’t name names just yet but I’m in talks with players I’ve worked with before. They know how I roll, it’ll be easier to get things moving quickly.”
Chimalizeni is known for his possession-based style, but he knows pretty football won’t save the club alone. We need structure, grit, and discipline. The style will come with time, but first, we fight,” he said.
Kwekwe United face Scottland at Rufaro on Sunday and Chimalizeni isn’t underestimating the wounded side.
“We have to be cautious. No room for silly mistakes, we need to show discipline from the first whistle,” he warned.
He kicked off his reign with a gutsy 1–1 draw against Green Fuel just before the international break.
And for the first time in weeks, Kwekwe United now has a full technical team behind the scenes, assistant coach Christopher Mwanza, goalkeepers’ guru Gift ‘Umbro’ Muzadzi, conditioning coach Vincent Chabwana, team manager Eric Chapeta, and kit manager Simon Takwara.
The message is loud and clear: Chimalizeni isn’t here to babysit, he’s here to build a monster.
Londile Moyo