Chronicle Editor
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE senior national rugby team’s technical committee led by Cyprian Mandenge has been dissolved after the Sables’ disastrous safari in this year’s Rugby Africa Gold Cup.
Zimbabwe Rugby Union chief executive officer Blessing Chiutare informed the ZRU board yesterday that the Sables technical team had been disbanded following the team’s pathetic show in the Gold Cup. Chiutare said the decision was taken after an assessment of the team’s display in the Gold Cup in which the Sables finished fifth out of six teams.
“This is to advise that after a technical meeting to review the performance of the Sables in the just ended Africa Gold Cup it has been decided to disband and disengage the current Sables’ technical team.
“The head coach (C Mandenge) has been advised of this decision to disband the team,” Chiutare said.
On the way forward, the ZRU head of secretariat said the position of the Sables’ head coach will be advertised as a matter of urgency, with a new mentor set to be appointed to take the country’s flagship national rugby team forward.
“The position for head coach will be advertised as soon as possible and a replacement coach appointed to ensure that a working plan is put in place to ensure that the Sables continue their preparations for the World Cup qualifiers,” Chiutare said.
Former Sables coach, Brendan Dawson, whom Mandenge succeeded in 2015, is highly expected to return.
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Bongani Ndlovu