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Grace Chingoma Sports Reporter
WHEN the Warriors plunge into battle tomorrow, hoping to clear one of the two final hurdles left for a possible appearance at the 2014 CHAN finals in South Africa, there will be a lot of focus on their youthful coach Ian “Dibango” Gorowa. After all, he is just 41 years old, and in only his third competitive match in charge of a national football team.
It’s a stark contrast to the investment that Zifa had done in 63-year-old German coach, Klaus Dieter Pagels, when the Warriors last faced Zambia in the Cosafa Cup final at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola last month.
The appointment of Gorowa to lead the Warriors appears to fall well in line with the way the domestic Premiership has suddenly decided to invest in the technical expertise of young and ambitious coaches.
All over the top-flight league, no matter whichever club you look at, the emphasis appears to be on getting a young and ambitious coach.
Gorowa settled for Callisto Pasuwa, as his first assistant, and the Dynamos coach is not an old man either.
Just 10 years ago he was playing competitively and at 43 years old, he is just two years older than Gorowa, but certainly young enough to be considered one of the youthful brigades when it comes to coaching.
Gorowa recruited another assistant coach, two weeks ago, and it’s no surprise, really, that he is also one of the youth brigades.
Mkhuphali “Mr Cooper” Masuku turned 33 years in February, which means that he is two years younger than Benjani Mwaruwari, who is still playing competitive football in South Africa for Premiership side Bidvest Wits.
He is just a year older than Dickson Choto, the Zimbabwe international defender, who has been trying to secure a deal to join English Championship side, Queens Park Rangers, after spending 10 years in Poland.
On Thursday, Masuku challenged his players to utilise home advantage and post a healthy advantage against Zambia in their CHAN final qualifier, first leg tie at Rufaro tomorrow.
Masuku is not new to the national team set-up as he had previously helped Norman Mapeza, another youthful coach, at the Cecafa Cup in Kenya in 2011.
He believes a two-goal cushion will be good enough for the Warriors to defend at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on August 24.
“I think the game on Sunday will give us an edge over Zambia because we are playing at home,” said Masuku.
“We are banking on our supporters to give us the drive and I think we are going to come alright on the day of the match.
“The boys have been working very hard at training and they are looking sharp and it’s just a matter of time before they are perfect.
“Zambia won the match at their home turf, but in any circumstances, I think we also did very well. Right now we are at home and we are looking forward to the game.
“We hope to do very well so that we go to Zambia with a cushion goal or two.”
Charles Mhlauri was 36 years when he guided the Warriors to their second Nations Cup appearance at the premier football festival on the continent eight years ago.
While Gorowa has arrived on the scene, six years older than Mhlauri, he is certainly young for a national team coach but that’s the flavour of the season, when it comes to Zimbabwean football, with coaches getting younger and younger.
The Saturday Herald’s survey has established that the 10 coaches in charge of Premiership clubs are either 45 years or younger and this group includes the four who are taking charge of the Big Four Clubs — Dynamos, Highlanders, CAPS United and FC Platinum.
Pasuwa, who has won the League and Cup double with Dynamos in the last two seasons, is just 43 and replaced his former teammate and friend, Lloyd Mutasa, who is even younger at 35 years and is now in charge of FC Platinum.
Zambian coach, Kelvin Kaindu, is in his second year in charge of Highlanders and, given that he is just 35 years old, that is quite a remarkable achievement.
In his maiden season as coach of Bosso, when he was just 34, his team lost just one league game all season, away to Monomotapa, and finished the campaign level on points with eventual champions Dynamos only to lose the title race on goal difference.
CAPS United handed the coaching duties to Taurai Mangwiro last year who, at just 43 years old, is another member of the youthful brigade that has taken charge of our football.
Coaches And Their Ages
Warriors — Ian Gorowa — 16 November 1971 — 41yrs
Dynamos — Callisto Pasuwa — 20 June 1970 — 43yrs
CAPS United — Taurai Mangwiro — 14 April 1970 — 43yrs
Highlanders — Kelvin Kaindu — 14 August 1977 — 35yrs
Harare City — Bigboy Mawiwi — 4 September 1966 — 46yrs
How Mine — Philani Ncube — 24 June 1970 — 43yrs
Hwange — Nation Dube — 17 June 1969 — 44yrs
Chicken Inn — Mandla Mpofu — 28 July 1974 — 39yrs
Triangle — Gishon Ntini — 22 April 1974 — 39yrs
Buffaloes — Timothy Masachi — 20 January 1968 — 45yrs
Monomotapa — Biggie Zuze — 19 October 1965 — 47yrs
FC Platinum — Lloyd Mutasa — 16 August 1977 — 35yrs
Shabanie — Luke Masomere — 19 August 1968 — 45yrs
Tripple B — Peter Manoti — 28 November 1969 — 43yrs
Motor Action — Joey Antipas — 16 November 1958 — 54yrs
Black Mambas — John Ncube — 29 December 1970 42yrs.
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