ZIFA resolved to hire a foreign coach to replace Sunday Chidzambwa who quit three weeks ago totake up a job in South Africa following their first board meeting on April 30. The board wants the coach to come from Germany on a government to government agreement. ZIFA president Cuthbert Dube confirmed the board had resolved to hire a foreign coach to guide the Warriors to the 2012 African Cup of Nations finals.
“We need an experienced coach to replace Chidzambwa and we have resolved to hire a foreign coach. We are aiming to have a Germany coach to replace Chidzambwa. We are trying to have him on a government to government agreement similar to the one in the past when we had the late Reinhard Fabisch,” said Dube. Fabisch a former Germany coach had a memorable stint with the Warriors in the 1990s when he guided the Dream Team which came close to qualifying for the Nations Cup finals in Tunisia in 1994.
ZIFA have in the mean time appointed Under-23 coach Norman Mapeza as interim coach of the Warriors. Mapeza has been tasked to take charge of the team during their African Nations Championships against Seychelles before the appointment of the substantive coach. Mapeza is being assisted by Motor Action coach Joey Antipas and goalkeepers coach Brenna Msiska.
Zimbabwe are seeking a second straight appearance at the finals in Sudan next year after making it to the finals in Ivory Coast in February last year.
Chidzambwa was in charge of the team which managed three draws before bowing out of the tournament. The tournament is designed for home based players only. The Warriors are expected to kick off their 2012 African Cup of Nations finals campaign in September this year. They were drawn in a tough group that includes top seeds Mali, Liberia and the Cape Verde Islands. They will start with an away to trip to Liberia on September 5.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News