No guarantees for Sables coaches

Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Rugby Union has said there is no guarantee the Sables technical team will continue in their jobs even if the flagship team makes it for next year’s World Cup in England.
Led by coach Brendan Dawson, his assistant Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge and manager Brighton Chivandire, the technical team’s contracts were due to expire after the World Cup qualifiers that ended in Madagascar on Sunday.

But their contracts were extended to cover the World Cup play-offs, first taking on Russia in Siberia in three weeks time with the winner going on to play the winner between Uruguay and Hong Kong on a home and away basis.

ZRU president John Falkenberg yesterday told our Harare Bureau that they will review the contracts of all the technical team members.

“After the play-offs, be it that we have qualified or not, the ZRU appointments committee will then go on to review the contracts of all the members and see if they can be able to continue with their respective roles.

“I am not part of the appointment committee but I can tell you that there might be need to expand on the number of technical persons in the Sables if they qualify for the World Cup, but it all really depends of the appointments committee,” said Falkenberg.

Three weeks ago Dawson allegedly insulted referee Marty Wiles after he claimed the senior referee was trying to help St George’s College overcome Falcon College in a schools game.

Wiles has since quit refereeing.

Sources within the appointments committee yesterday said this could weigh against Dawson and Chivandire could take over as Sables coach.

“Dawson has not been an exemplary leader and just a week before the Sables travelled to Madagascar, he shouted at one of the most senior and most respectable referees at a schools game insinuating that Wiles was cheating, using despicable language, in front of the referee’s daughter,” said the sources.

“Brighton was roped into the technical team as the manager so that he could build relations with the players while he prepares to take over the team after the World Cup qualifiers.

“He has a lot of experience and looking at his CV you notice that he was once a Sable, playing for Zimbabwe rugby where he was a lock, he is one of the most qualified coaches in the country and he has experience with the youth teams.

“Just over a year ago he was the Young Sables coach and went to at least three Junior World Rugby Trophy tournaments with the young boys.”

Chivandire is a holder of the International Rugby Board Level III coaching certificate and is one of the very few coaches who hold such a qualification and is also a coach educator.