Zim coaches clash in SA

Noel Munzabwa recently in Polokwane, South Africa
TWO Zimbabwean coaches will go into battle aï¿½ï¿½ albeit in a foreign land aï¿½ï¿½ when their respective teams clash in an opening National First Division (NFD) match in Durban next weekend.

Former Zimbabwe Under-20 mentor Jairos Tapera, now head coach at Black Leopards, visits compatriot Joey Antipas of AmaZulu in Durban in what promises to be blockbuster clash between the two equally ambitious clubs.

Black Leopards supporters believe the arrival of Tapera is the missing link to what should mark their return to the Absa Premier Soccer League after a few years in the second tier league.

B-Metro Sport caught up with some of the supporters in Polokwane, Limpopo Province in a pre-season tournament that was played at the Peter Mokaba Stadium last Saturday.

One Nehemiah Nenzhelele, a Polokwane-based Leopards supporter and an avid admirer of Zimbabwean born players, believes Tapera is just what the doctor ordered.

aï¿½?The club has brought in a new coach from Zimbabwe, the same nation that gave South African football talented players like Khama Billiat and Willard Katsande and I believe the new coach will do well for the team,aï¿½? said Nenzhelele.

His sentiments were echoed by another supporter, only identified as Azwindini who said Thohoyandou Stadium aï¿½ï¿½Aï¿½ the Black Leopards home ground aï¿½ï¿½ would be turned into a fortress.

aï¿½?It is not by coincidence that the last time Black Leopards won promotion the team was coached by another Zimbabwean coach (Sunday Chidzambwa), this time we will go back to the Absa Premiership.

aï¿½?We will conquer and must make sure that no visiting team will come out of Thohoyandou Stadium victorious,aï¿½? said Azwindini.

Black Leopards lost 0-1 to Baroka FC in the semi-final of the Old Mutual Fame Charity Cup at Peter Mokaba Stadium last Saturday.

Coach Tapera described the defeat as a wake up call for the NFD side.

aï¿½?Losing to Baroka FC was a timely wake up call for the players after we had gone unbeaten for a number of games in the pre-season.

aï¿½?As a technical department we are going back to correct some of the mistakes we noted ahead of our first league match against AmaZulu,aï¿½? said Tapera.