Caps United coach Taurai Mangwiro is one of the applicants for the vacant Zifa technical director post.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
The position fell vacant after Nelson Matongorere was fired in January over allegations of illegally voting in the Ballon D’Or.
Though Mangwiro is tightlipped about his interest, Standardsport has it on good authority that the Green Machine gaffer, one of the highest qualified coaches in the country, has set his eyes on the job.
Other applicants include former Zifa board member competitions Benedict Moyo and former national team coach Gibson Homela.
But the two are highly likely to fall by the wayside as they are over 50-years-old, the age limit set for candidates.
Zifa staffer Mike Ngore has also tendered his application. Zimbabwe Coaches Association chairman Bekhimpilo Nyoni is said to have been advised to apply and is mulling doing so.
The successful candidate is expected to commence work on May 1 after next week’s interview.
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Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said they will only announce the name of the successful candidate after the interviews.
“The closing date for applications is April 17 (Thursday) and interviews will then be conducted the following week. We will only be able to make public the name of the person who would have been successful,” said Gwesela.
Nyoni was however not available to confirm whether he had been asked to make an application.
But sources at Zifa said the race for the post is between Mangwiro, Ngore and Nyoni who is expected to tender his application this week.
“Mangwiro who trained in Germany is a favourite while Ngore is already in the structures here. Nyoni is also not to be taken lightly because he has the backing of some guys here besides being qualified,” said the source.
The candidate should have five years experience in coaching or sports management and should hold at least a sports-related diploma.
The technical director would be responsible for football development from grassroots and would work closely with the Zifa board member Development.
One of his prime roles includes training and grading of coaches while his monitoring extends to referees and sports medics. He plays a vital part in the appointment of national team coaches playing a recommendation role.
Since Matongorere’s suspension last September before his expulsion, technical director duties have not been performed at Zifa.
The first ever CAF A coaching course that had been scheduled for last December was cancelled due to Matongorere’s suspension and is now expected to be conducted in August.
Matongorere, who is the highest qualified Zimbabwean coach is a Uefa A badge holder and was once attached to Arsenal and Borrusia Dortmund.
He however still remains a Fifa/CAF instructor and trains coaches around Africa.
