Shadreck Mlauzi joins Bosso

FORMER Mighty Warriors head coach Shadreck Mlauzi is serving his internship at Highlanders’ developmental side Bosso 90.

Mlauzi is currently pursuing a Confederation of African Football (Caf) badge in Tanzania.

“I will be working with Bosso90 on an attachment that is set to end sometime in September. It has been quite a good eye opener for me. I was welcomed well at Highlanders, and I’m very much grateful to Bosso 90 head coach Melusi Mabaleka Sibanda,” said Mlauzi.

With two rounds of play already in the Zifa Southern Division One League, Bosso 90 are on position 11 with a single point.

In their previous fixture, Mlauzi and Sibanda’s charges drew one all against army side Indlovu Iyanyathela.

“I believe we have so far had a good run. Yes, it’s early days yet and there is still room for improvement from our side. The boys will certainly get better as the season progresses. The boys are willing to learn which is very encouraging,” added Mlauzi.

Sibanda said in Mlauzi, he has found a great helper.

“Mlauzi has been instrumental. He is a gifted coach and I’m actually learning a lot from him. We have given him a free role and as an institution, I think we are going to benefit more from him,” said Sibanda.

In recent years, Mlauzi penned a physical education and sports book, titled Anima Sana In Corpore Sano which went on to find its way into classes after being approved for use by Ordinary Level pupils.

According to a report by the Curriculum Development and Technical Services department, the manuscript met the relevant criteria including the content covering the whole syllabus and became appropriate for Ordinary Level students.

The book includes chapters on nutrition, diet and physical activity, substances and anti-doping, fundamentals of fitness, human body systems and muscular system.

The former Inline Academy coach was in charge of the Mighty Warriors when the women’s senior football team made history by qualifying for Olympics and were part of the biggest sporting showcase at Rio 2016 in Brazil.

Earlier this year, Mlauzi was cleared by the Confederation of Southern African Football Association (Cosafa) Ethics Committee of sexual assault charges that were levelled against him.

Mlauzi was facing allegations of indecently assaulting a female member of the senior women’s technical team in South Africa during the Cosafa Women’s Championship 2023.

Mlauzi’s exoneration by the Cosafa Ethics Committee came after he was cleared of the same charges by the courts.

A decision was made by the three-member Cosafa Ethics Committee and it has since been communicated to the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and copied to Mlauzi and his accuser.

In a judgment seen by Zimpapers Sports Hub, the Cosafa Ethics Committee chairperson Mamy Natach Andrianaivosa wrote:

“Having considered all evidence submitted, both orally and in documentary form, and determining the matter on a balance of probabilities, the committee finds the evidence of the accused more probable and consequently does not believe the complainant’s version.

“The effect of the finding in (1) above means the committee could not find that a case for sexual harassment against the accused exists.”

The committee recommended that there was a need for the association to have a workshop on sexual harassment in the region and prepare a public meeting room for use by all associations.

“Cosafa safeguarding service ought to prepare a public meeting room for use by all associations to avoid meeting in single rooms and establish a schedule for use in each tournament or Cosafa event,” further read the judgment.

In a letter written to the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) dated January 17 and copied to Mlauzi and his accuser, Cosafa executive director Sue Destombes emphasised the need to review the findings by their ethics committee. – @FungaiMuderere