Gorowa: Zifa exposed

Sport
THE Zifa High Performance Technical Committee got the shock of their lives when they learnt that the Warriors gaffer was employed by Zifa without submitting his coaching credentials.

THE Zifa High Performance Technical Committee (HPTC) got the shock of their lives when they learnt that the Warriors gaffer was employed by Zifa without submitting his coaching credentials.

BY Brian Nkiwane

The committee met last week to deliberate the future of all national team coaches with Warriors coach Ian Gorowa topping the scrutiny.

The move has put the Zifa employment system under spotlight, forcing the HPTC to come up with new criteria of recommending coaches to all national teams structures, with curriculum vitaes (CVs) and coaching certificates being the first priority.

Speaking to this publication, the committee’s vice-chairman Gibson Homela said all the committee members were shocked when they demanded Gorowa’s coaching certificates and his CV, only to be told that he had not submitted such documents to Zifa.

Gorowa and his assistants have also been working without contracts, it has emerged.

“We were all shocked when we learnt that Gorowa has been working as Warriors coach without any written agreement with the football governing body. This then raises a lot of question as to how he got the job without anyone going through his coaching qualifications.”

Zifa have in the recent years been caught in the mischief of employing coaches based on verbal agreements.

The football mother body seems not to learn from their mistakes after being dragged to court by an uncontracted Rahman Gumbo and his predecessor Norman Mapeza whose contract they violated.

The John Phiri-headed technical committee has requested Gorowa to submit a report for the failed Afcon campaign by Friday before meeting for the second time the following day.

They however face an embarrassing snub from Gorowa who is not contractually obliged to present the report.

“We would want to see his highest coaching certificate, whether Level 4, CAF A or Uefa A Licence,” said Homela.

He added that what surprised them most was that other coaches from other national team structures had submitted their CVs and coaching certificates to the football mother body.

Asked why Dutch-trained Goro-wa had failed to produce a report in time, Homela said he was not sure why the Warriors coach was taking so long.

“What I can tell you is that Zifa communicated with the committee advising us that they had written Gorowa four letters demanding the report but until today, he has not responded to those four letters. Efforts by this committee to communicate with him hit a brick wall as his phone goes unanswered.”

A reliable source within Zifa said Gorowa had responded to one of the letters in which he is said to have made it clear that he was only going to submit the much-awaited report after Zifa paid him.

Gorowa’s demands could lead to yet another legal battle.

“I think this issue has something to do with salaries. Responding to one of the four letters, Gorowa made it clear that he wanted Zifa to pay him his outstanding money so that he can submit his report,” the source said.

Asked what would be their next move if Gorowa did not submit the report within the given time, Homela said as a committee, they would make recommendations on the way forward.

“Whether there is a report or not, we are going to meet and make recommendations for the good of the game.”

Meanwhile, the committee has recommended that Dynamos coach Kalisto Pasuwa who has been assistant to Peter Ndlovu in the Under-23 category be elevated to replace Ndlovu who is now employed by South Africa’s Premiership side Mamelodi Sundowns.

Pasuwa has been Gorowa’s first assistant. Further recommendations made to the board are that former Highlanders goalkeepers’ coach Tembo Tshuma be roped in as Under-23 goalkeepers coach which they said was a specialist area that needed experienced coaches.

Pasuwa would then be allowed to pick his trusted lieutenant for the assistant position.

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