admin
Noel Mudzambwa
THE Zimbabwe trio of Jairos Tapera, Darlington Dodo and Hebert Maruwa lost out the Manzini Wanderers head coach job to Nyanga Hlophe who started duty this week after crossing the rubicon from Mbabane Swallows.
According to one of the dailies, Tapera appeared to be favourite to take over at Manzini Wanderers after the sudden departure of Thabo Koki Vilakati and understandably so as he is unattached after leaving TelOne FC.
“Former Black Leopards head coach Jairos Tapera is vying for the hot seat at hub giants Manzini Wanderers. The coaching position was left vacant by seasoned local coach Thabo “Koki” Vilakati who parted ways with the club.
“Assistant coaches Nsindiso Gama, Mthunzi Ginindza and Christian Thwala have been drilling the team, ahead of their next MTN Premier League clash against Green Mamba at the Somhlolo National Stadium.
“Tapera is also former Zimbabwe U-20 head coach. He once led the national team juniors to the second round of the qualifiers of Africa Cup U-20 Cup of Nations. Other Zimbabwean coaches who applied for the post are former Manzini Sundowns Darlington Dodo and Hebert Maruwa, who is a former Green Mamba and Mbabane Highlanders coach,“ read the daily.
But why would a coach like Dodo who has just been given the reins at Caps United and seems happy apply for another job just a month into the Makepekepe assignment more so after the frustrations he suffered at Manzini Sundowns, now Denver Sundowns?
Why would Hebert Maruwa who is enjoying a purple patch at Black Rhinos apply for another job more so in Eswatini where his last assignments at Mbabane Highlanders, then Mbabane Citizens, were tumultuous?
These are some of the questions whose answers are a story for another day but as would be not even Tapera’s “rich curriculum vitae” could land the former Black Leopards coach as Wanderers would welcome Nyanga Hlophe who has been wandering between Mbabane Swallows and the new job.
Manzini Wanderers communications officer Sandile “Ntofo” Dlamini confirmed that applications for the hot seat were pouring in at the club though he denied knowledge of the Zimbabwean coaches by saying they were yet to check the names of the applicants before they shortlist the top three candidates.
“I can confirm that we have received lots of applications from both local and international coaches. However, we are yet to undertake the screening process and we need to be extra careful,” he was quoted as saying.
Online Reporter