adminTHE Bible says a prophet has no honour in his home. In most cases, the community around would be very much alive to the background of the prophet to such an extent that they do not want to accept that he or she has climbed the ladder, despite recognition from faraway places. They would not believe that he or she is a true prophet!
Such is the case with some coaches in the country who have toiled for a long time with no recognition from their fellow neighbours and countrymen and even from the media. They are treated just like the boy next door.
True to that, former Black Rhinos and Dynamos striker Ian “Dibango” Gorowa has finally received the honour at home after he was appointed the senior men’s national team coach. He took over from German expatriate Dieter-Klaus Pagels who returns home on Wednesday after three years in the country. He started off in charge of development at Zifa on a Government to Government programme but has in the last eight months been thrust into the hot seat of the Warriors job.
Gorowa joins the long list of coaches in the Warriors set up and one hopes he will have a lengthy spell, unlike those who came before him who count up to five since the Zifa board came into power in 2010. The turnover of coaches is a cause for concern because what it means is that there is no continuity in the Warriors set up.
Since 2010, Zifa have hired Norman Mapeza, who was in charge from May 2010 up to September. Tom Saintfiet, that Belgian expatriate who hardly lasted a month after running into work permit problems and was deported as cracks emerged in the Zifa board, then Madinda Ndlovu who was in charge from October 2010 up to March 2011 when Mapeza regained control of the team, amid serious divisions in the board. Mapeza was to have his longest spell as he recorded a number of victories that reminded the nation that there is a national project called Warriors that had to be supported by all Zimbabweans, until he was swept aside by the Asiagate saga after 11 months.
Then in came Rahman Gumbo who was in charge from February 2012 until he resigned in November after the team fell in the last hurdle to qualify for the 2013 African Cup of Nations finals in South Africa to Angola, who won the second leg at home after losing the first encounter in Harare. Gumbo was replaced by Pagels who began his duties in November.
Gorowa takes charge with his first assignment away in Mauritius in a qualifier for the Chan tournament this weekend. He has had a fairly good apprenticeship in South Africa, having been part of a number of high profile clubs that include Mamelodi Sundowns, and Ajax Cape Town. In fact, he was once the man in charge at South Africa’s richest club, Sundowns, and was close to lifting the title a couple of seasons back but lost the title to eventual winners Orlando Pirates.
His coming on board did not surprise those who closely follow football in the country. In fact, there have been calls from the stands for some time now that he is drafted into the Warriors set up. He is one of the high profile coaches with the credentials to deliver, although he might find himself having to fight from the shadow of Mapeza, whom many die-hard Warriors fans believe he still has unfinished business with the national team.
Gorowa is certainly not the old school type of coach. He is relatively young and streetwise and certainly understands the dynamics of the game nowadays and should find getting along with his players easy, since he has been tasked to continue with the rebranding exercise started by Pagels.
Gorowa comes in with a completely new backroom staff that includes Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa, national Under-20 coach and FC Platinum development coach Jairos Tapera and Richard Tswatswa bouncing back as goalkeepers’ trainer. Former Under-20 manager Patrick Mutesva is tipped to hold on to the senior post as Sharif Mussa is reported to be on his way out of the Warriors set up because of business commitments.
The new look Warriors has no room for Lloyd Mutasa, who deputised Pagels, legend Peter Ndlovu who is Under-23 national team coach and was second assistant to the senior team, who has since found a job as Developmental Coach at Sundowns in South Africa as well as goalkeepers’ coach Nkululeko Dhlamini.
Gorowa travelled with the team to Zambia for the Cosafa tournament but followed proceedings from the terraces and when he was fully in charge this week, he revealed that he was looking forward to the 2015 African Cup of Nations finals, although the short term aim would be to qualify for next year’s Chan finals to be staged in South Africa.
“Every coach has his own way of doing things. The tiki taka football is good but should be complemented by good results. As a national team coach you are judged by results.
“We have to look at the whole rebuilding exercise. Zambia are the Cosafa champions but I don’t think they played better than Zimbabwe.
“We are on a rebuilding exercise and I don’t think there is any pressure. Football is a game of opinion. If you look the majority of players (in the squad) they played at Cosafa. I have my own opinion and reservations and will try and improve. The tiki taka type of football is good,” he said.
Tiki taka was introduced by Pagels, which is a passing game with methodical build up from the back perfected by the likes of European giants Barcelona and Arsenal.
Gorowa took to Mauritius, a squad of locally based players, who are eligible for the Chan tournament, and will have to make do without the leading scorer in the country, Tendai Ndoro of Chicken Inn who is club hunting in South Africa. Having spent most of his adult life at club level, the new Warriors coach knows he faces a different ball game altogether.
“It’s a different environment but I don’t see why I shouldn’t adjust. With a club there is always more time unlike the national team. But you need to understand the culture and it will be easier. Obviously our immediate plan is 2015 Afcon. The other thing is to try and build and develop young players to qualify for Chan in South Africa.”
Speaking to journalists in Harare, Gorowa said he was humbled to coach the Warriors and was aware of financial challenges that the association faced.
“It’s an honour for me and it is a privilege. …As a coach, number one is that you are judged by the results and number two is to always try to improve the game. Most of the players, I was observing in Zambia and know what to expect,” he said.
The prophet has finally been recognised at home. But there arises a question: Will he exorcise the ghost that has made us miss out on the World Cup finals ever since, as well as the editions of the African Cup of Nations finals since 2006?
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Online Reporter
derick.khumalo