adminContrary to media reports which recently claimed that the soccer motherbody had appointed Gumbo as the substantive coach to take over from suspended Norman Mapeza, Mashingaidze said Zifa were working round the clock to secure a coach before the Angola game scheduled for Harare.
Mapeza, who signed a three-year contract with Zifa effective from 1 April last year and was meant to run up to 1 April 2014, has sued Zifa for $400 000 in unpaid salaries, allowances and damages.
In the papers, the former Monomotapa coach argued that by appointing Gumbo on a substantive basis, Zifa had “constructively” dismissed him.
“The position is that respondent has with effect from 31 July 2012 appointed another person in the position hitherto held by complainant notwithstanding the fact that complainant’s contract runs up to 1 April 2014,” Mapeza’s lawyers wrote to Zifa.
However, Mashingaidze said the association had not appointed someone on a permanent basis.
“The correct position is that Rahman Gumbo is the Warriors’ interim coach. As Zifa we are working around the clock to deal with the issue of a substantive coach and I can promise you that before the Nations Cup qualifier against Angola that process will be done,” said Mashingaidze.
He said the association wanted to have someone on a full-time basis so that everyone takes responsibility in failure and in success.
“Up and until we finalise the implementation process, that is the position regarding the Warriors job. When someone is appointed we will use the normal process of officially unveiling him to the public,” said the Zifa head of secretariat.
Gumbo was appointed soon after Mapeza and more than 90 players and officials were suspended from taking part in any football activity to do with the national team. His first assignment was the 2013 Nations Cup first round first leg which a depleted Zimbabwe lost 2-1 to Burundi before eking out a slender 1-0 win in the second leg to progress on the away goals rule.
Gumbo’s next assignment was a 1-0 home loss to Guinea in the 2014 World Cup qualifier before holding Mozambique to a nil-all draw in the same competition.
The championship winning coach, who won league titles at home, Malawi and Botswana, is with the national team for an international friendly match against Zambia at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium today.
Online Reporter