Club chairman, Mlamuli Phiri, told The Zimbabwean earlier this week that his club would instead, work on talent identification, nurturing and development.
The club recently shocked the world by appointing former Mighty Warriors player Sithethelelwe “Kwinji 15” from women’s Super League side, Inline Academy, as their assistant coach.
“We have a trusted technical team that is very much aware of the fact that the club is a community team that is out to develop our society,” Phiri told The Zimbabwean, earlier this week in an interview.
“Recently, they told us that their aim was to make names than bring them in. We are retaining most of the players who took us to the PSL and have a few young players from the first division on trial here. We are aiming at grooming and building new names.
“We are more focused on building our own stars than work with those built by others. If our soccer is to develop in this country, then we should start developing our own players from grassroots and that is what we believe in and want to achieve as a club.”
Phiri applauded the roping in of Sibanda into the club’s technical team.
“We believe women also have a big role to play in our society. Sibanda contributed a lot to Zimbabwean soccer as a player and juniors coach and has to be honoured for that. We also believe in her capabilities.
She is a qualified coach with an instructor’s qualification, a Caf A licence and a Germany B licence she obtained in 2012,” added Phiri.
“She also coaches the Zimbabwe Under-20 women’s national team and that should confirm that she is the right person for the job she has landed.”
Phiri revealed that his side would soon play at the home ground developed in Tsholotsho, where renovations were underway. Iziqholo ze Zhwane made history when they became the first club from a rural set-up to make it into the topflight football league in independent Zimbabwe, after they gained promotion at the end of last season.
The Lizwe Sweswe-coached side boasts a number of players with an average age of 23 years, who include Chang Marian, Thandolwenkosi Ncube, Nkosilathi Moyo, Butholweze Ncube, Ocean Ncube, Mlamuli Phakathi, Chris Chitiyo and Rodrick Mufudza.
Post published in: Football