adminPaul Munyuki Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE national rugby technical team personnel will have to re-apply for their posts if they want to continue in their roles for the 2015 international season.
All technical teams, save for the Cheetahs who still have the Africa Cup and the World Sevens Series South Africa leg, are being dissolved.
The Cheetahs are coached by Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba and Steve Mcdonald.
The Zimbabwe Rugby Union yesterday said all coaches will have to re-apply for national team posts at the beginning of 2015.
Vice-president Colleen de Jong told The Herald they have a number of personnel they are targeting as well.
The Sables coaching contracts for the coach Brendon Dawson, assistant Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge and manager Brighton Chivandire expired at the end of the failed World Cup qualifier two months ago.
However, Chivandire has since been elevated to director of rugby.
“We had our first executive meeting (on Monday) and we discussed plans for 2015 and in a short while we will be publishing these plans,” said Chivandire.
The Under-20 technical team of coach Nsikelelo “Sykes” Sibanda, assistants Geoff Madhake and Marvin Chirume and team manager Blessing “Bhuru” Chiutare will have to re-apply.
Godwin “Jaws” Murambwa, his assistant Brandon Bridder and manager Tungamirai Mashungu will have to send in their applications if they are interested in continuing with the Under-18 Craven Week side.
The same story goes for the Under-17 and Under-13 sides.
“All coaching contracts expire on the 31st of December this year and this means that from the 1st of January 2015 all those interested in taking charge of any national team role will have to apply,” said de Jong.
“Those that were in charge of teams this year will have to re-apply if they are interested in the role they played or wish to take up another role in any of the national teams and this means from the senior national side the Sables, Under-19s, Women and all age-grade teams.”
However, the only person who is understood to be in eligible for re-appointment is Dawson who has been in charge of the Sables for the past seven years with one Africa Cup title and two failed World Cup attempts.
His assistant Mandenge is likely to replace Dawson.
“Yes, of course, there are some people we are targeting to work with but that all depends on their availability and willingness to work with us as well,” said de Jong.
De Jong said they wanted the Sables play a couple of home games before their Africa Cup campaign.
“I believe 2015 is going to be an exciting year for us and the excitement has already started because we are preparing to host the Sevens Africa Cup in few weeks here at Harare Sports Club.
“Next year we will play a number of our (XVs) Africa Cup games at home and earlier in the year we will also host our own Zimbabwe Sevens Invitational Tournament.
“But before the Sables play in the Africa Cup, we are trying to organise one or two home games in the build-up to that and we are talking to a number of Unions, looking for someone who is willing to play us at home for those two games.”
Online Reporter