adminHe recently joined struggling First Division club Dynamos.
Murape, who has built up a reputation for being a nomadic coach who specialises in rescuing teams from the drop, takes over from Owen da Gama with the Limpopo club stuck deep in muddy waters.
The much-travelled coach, who turns 64 in July, has been in South Africa since 1993 but also spent time in Namibia in recent years.
Right now in the two professional leagues of South African football — the PSL and First Division — Murape is the oldest man sitting on the bench of all the 32 clubs.
“I have taken this job because I am not a coward,” reckons Murape, whose team has a mere seven points from 17 games, languishing 10 points away from safety.
“I understand that the team is in a very difficult situation. Actually this is what I call crisis but at least it can still be fixed because we still have 39 points to play for in our bid to survive.
“I am experienced enough to handle these kind of situations and being the optimistic human being that I am I know that if we grind some early results we will give ourselves a big chance.
“Though looking at the log, which I don’t, doesn’t give so much hope there is still a chance of surviving.”
He said all hope was not lost.
“If we get our points tally to double figures within the next two games then we will have done ourselves a huge favour in this battle to survive,” said Murape.
“I played my first game in charge over the past weekend and we didn’t concede (0-0 against Witbank Spurs) so that gives me hope because this is a team that had already conceded 26 goals.
“We just need to get moving within the next five games and then get ourselves into the mix by the time I have been in charge for 10 games.
“This is about getting the team to believe and getting the confidence back. When playing for survival like us there is no need for pretty football, we just need to get points and make sure we are compact in the way we play.”
Murape is also the most travelled coach still involved in South African football having been at Bloemfontein Celtic, Real Rovers, Qwaqwa Stars, Moroka Swallows, Manning Rangers, assistant coach at Orlando Pirates, Ria Stars, Black Leopards before then moving down to the First Division in recent years getting involved at Nathi Lions, Sivutsa Stars, United FC and Witbank Spurs.
“I think I have built up a reputation of being a coach who comes in to fix things when they are broken which is why I have moved around so much.
“However, I am not complaining because this is the nature of the job,” says Murape.
The legendary Murape played for and coached the Zimbabwe national team after also turning out and coaching popular Harare club Dynamos. — CAJ News.
Online Reporter