Chronicle Editor
Lovemore Dube, Sports Hub Coordinator
THE forthcoming Cosafa Schools Under-15 tournament for both boys and girls has affected the recruitment of the next Zifa technical director to replace William Mutekede. This was revealed by the Zifa Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa yesterday. Zimbabwe is playing host to the tournament which is in its second year and this year instead of an individual school, countries will field national teams of the age-group. The advantage with this is that the best Under-15 talent of a nation will get international exposure across nine other member States.
Mutasa said the technical director’s job was a key element in the operations of the national association and hence needed filling as soon as possible. He, however, indicated that the tournament had affected the exercise in which Fifa has a vested interest in. The Cosafa tournament starts at Gateway College in Mashonaland West Province on Thursday and ends two days later.
In an interview yesterday afternoon Mutasa said: “This is a very important post in the association. Fifa has a lot of interest in it too so its filling is key and has to be done urgently.”
Mutasa could not be drawn to disclose how many locals and foreigners were after the job.
“Our human resources component is looking at the applications, at the moment there is nothing we can say about applicants,” said Mutasa.
A number of leading coaches in the country some with a good academic and teaching background are said to have applied and are leading the race.
Zifa are keen on someone with the ability to plan, draft programmes, supervise implementation, monitor and evaluate qualities that may disqualify a number of former players as a majority have a weaker academic standing.
While it could not be ascertained which coaches from the teaching field had applied, investigations by Zimpapers Sports Hub reveal that Rodwell Dhlakama, Bongani Mafu, Taurai Mangwiro, Dumaza Dube, Dalubuhle Bhebhe, Philani Mabhena, Maxwell Jongwe and Irene Mwanza are teachers with Caf A and B credentials.
There is a school of thought that legendary figures like Moses Chunga, Sunday Chidzambwa, Douglas Mloyi, Norman Mapeza, James Takavada, Benedict Moyo, Stix Mtizwa, Nation Dube, Charlie Jones and Gibson Homela should be considered as they have an appreciation of the practical end of things in the game. They should be able to withstand the rigours of reading, writing, planning, monitoring and evaluating.
Coaches like Mapeza, Dube, Chunga, Chidzambwa, Moyo, Mtizwa and Jones are respected figures who have had experience with the national team as players and coaches or even playing abroad experience.
Jairos Tapera, John “Toto” Ncube, Nesbert Saruchera and Saul Chaminuka coming from the uniformed services and being highly qualified have discipline, working in a properly structured environment as a strength to be considered.
Mangwiro and Jongwe could be among the favourites, they have worked there in a similar capacity. This time could be the availability of Fifa resources and a different management and environment that wants football to be the winner. Their familiarity with the terrain and expectations could put them at an advantageous position.
Jongwe is credited with getting big numbers of teachers to training as coaches realising that investing in teachers is having the future and nation in mind as several generations will pass through their hands.
Mangwiro has also worked outside the country in a fast football developing country, Botswana.
Probably the best candidate could be Mafu. He has experience having trained in the United Kingdom, Germany, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. He speaks two other foreign languages French and Germany, very influential with English in world football. He is a teacher who has coached in the UK, Botswana and Zimbabwe and believes in grassroots development and has been credited with plucking a number of stars like Prince Dube from Area Zone football.
He has also won the Cosafa Cup as Chidzambwa’s assistant and with Benjani Mwaruwari they are credited with giving some youngsters at league champions Ngezi Platinum like Takunda Benhura Premiership football last year before Takesure Chiragwi took over.
Bhebhe is a teacher who trained in Brazil and has coached at several lower division clubs in Bulawayo and had stints at Bulawayo Chiefs, Bulawayo City and Chicken Inn.
Mabhena and Dumaza have done well with junior development in Bulawayo and command some respect among their peers.
Mwanza who coaches Mosi Rovers and the Zimbabwe schools’ Under-15 national team is another qualified coach.
Online Reporter