The country’s soccer governing board is expected to appoint a substantive coach who will take over from interim coach Rahman Gumbo later this month.With two months to go before the Warriors resume their crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Zifa has come under intense pressure from football fans to immediately name a substantive coach.
However, the association has been struggling to pay previous coaches’ salaries and if the Mbada deal sails through, the mining company would fully cater for the coach’s welfare.
The new coach is most likely to be a local after Zifa president Cuthbert Dube expressed his dislike for a foreign coach.
“I do not like foreign coaches because hiring one would mean we have undermined the capacity of the locals. We have 16 coaches in the Premier Soccer League and others unattached or outside the country, so we cannot say none of them is capable of doing the job. I will fight my way to ensure we hire a local coach,” said Dube.
“We are currently discussing with Mbada Diamonds to see if they can come on board and help us on the issue of the coach. So far we are happy with the support they have been giving us.”
But Mbada Diamonds chief administration officer Major Mahlangu however said they were still to deliberate on the issue as a company but would seriously consider the association’s plea.
Stand-in coach Gumbo who took over from suspended Norman Mapeza who is yet to be cleared from the long-dragging Asiagate match-fixing scandal is the supporters’ favourite.
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Dube said if Mapeza was to be exonerated from the Asiagate scandal, he would be considered for the Warriors job.
“When I pushed for Mapzea’s appointment two years ago, I did not know that he was involved in Asiagate. If he is cleared of any wrongdoing he would be considered for appointment, just like any other local coach,” Dube said.
