This follows a meeting of the Zifa board Tuesday which decided that Rahman Gumbo and his assistants David Mandigora and Peter Ndlovu should take charge of the Warriors until after the 2014 World Cup to be hosted by Brazil.
Mapeza, who is on suspension in the wake of investigations into the Asiagate scandal, has already been informed of the decision. It was not clear by Friday whether Mapeza had accepted the decisions as he is owed thousands of dollars in back pay.
Mapeza was in charge of the Warriors in their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations campaign winning at home against Mali and Liberia before losing to Cape Verde in his last game of the campaign.
Although he had been given the thumbs up to continue as Warriors coach for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, Mapeza was suspended from Warriors duty following allegations that his team to the 2010 East and Central Africa Challenge Cup also sold matches in favour of a betting syndicate.
Sources, however, have revealed that it is these allegations that have forced Zifa to cut ties with Mapeza although Zifa Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Mashingaidze denied this.
Although Mapeza himself could not be reached Mashingaidze confirmed the latest developments saying the board was of the opinion that it would be unfair to bring back Mapeza after Gumbo had started his campaign.
He said the board unanimously agreed that Gumbo has to end the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations campaign he started adding that they have also extended Gumbo’s duties to the 2014 World Cup qualifiers as they want continuity.
The Warriors will play Egypt, Guinea, and Mozambique in the World Cup qualifiers.
Their next assignment is the return leg against Burundi in June. The Warriors lost the first leg 2-1 in Bujumbura.
Mapeza has never been a favourite of the Zifa board. In 2008 he was sidelined in favour of Brazilian Valinhos after he had led Zimbabwe to a 3-1 win over Malawi as caretaker coach.
Then in 2010 he was also overlooked in favour of Madinda Ndlovu and was only given the job after it was evident that Ndlovu had failed.
Now it has happened again as he has been given the boot at a time he was expected to lead Zimbabwe’s campaign to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by South Africa.
Post published in: Football