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Nkosilathi Sibanda, [email protected]
ZIFA Southern Region Division One side ZPC Hwange have appointed veteran Mabelo Njekwa as their head coach for this season.
Njekwa is a former Hwange and ZPC Kariba Premiership coach.
The seasoned coach’s arrival was announced by the club chairman Farai Mahachi on Saturday.
Mahachi said they settled for Njekwa and felt he was the right man for the job, as the gaffer carries with a wealth of experience in the game.
Njekwa was an assistant coach at Premiership side Hwange under Zambian Tenant Chilumba and Nation Dube. He also had a stint at ZPC Kariba.
Njekwa, in his expansive career gained his experience at Chipangano.
Other appointments in the ZPC Hwange technical team include assistant coaches Mthandazo Nkala and Brighton Siziba.
The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) sponsored team also hired Brighton Kekala as the goalkeepers’ coach while the fitness trainer’s post was given to Bonamali Bwanali.
Former footballer Carrington Gomba is the new manager.
In other appointments, ZPC Hwange contracted Azele Kwabe as the medic, with Tafila Mpala and Ennie Sibanda being appointed as kit manager and compliance officer respectively.
The ZPC Hwange chairman told Zimpapers Sports Hub that they would want Njekwa to bring in a change that will catapult the team as it aims to give the local community quality and entertaining football.
“Our aim is to serve the Hwange community by developing football and also to give local players exposure. Of course, it is in every team’s desire to play against the big boys in the Premiership but with us it’s all about serving the community. We follow our parent company’s corporate social responsibility policy, so our thrust is looking at more community involvement and bringing in new talent,” said Mahachi.
He said the head coach’s assistants will be tasked with ensuring that talented youngsters in Hwange were nurtured and given a chance to excel.
“We want to be a team that is rooted in the community and one that supports junior development. We appointed Nkala as he has experience in training juniors even in South Africa at some point. Even our head coach has been to junior football.
“This, looking at the bigger picture, will also benefit the nation, as we seek to give youngsters the platform. As ZPC Hwange, we want to be a team that resonates with the community we serve. As such, we will play to make sure that football talent in Hwange gets the exposure it deserves,” said Mahachi.
Meanwhile, the executive committee that is led by Mahachi has committed to serve the club and make sure that the institution delivers its mandate.
Other member in the executive are the vice chairperson Ndabezihle Ncube, secretary, Mehluli Thebe, treasurer Lovemore Kuveya and committee members Naison Phiri and Theo Ncube, Nation Nzima, Xolani Nyoni and George Hamandishe. – @NkosieLegend.
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