The PSL floodlights and national team jersey have been swapped for a clipboard and training bibs.
Former Zimbabwe Warriors midfielder and two-time Soccer Star of the Year Rodwell Chinyengetere has officially started life after playing, after being unveiled as head coach of newly established Mashonaland West side Nitazie FC.
The appointment was confirmed to stakeholders, supporters and prospective players during the club’s General Meeting held at Waverly Primary School on Friday.
For Nitazie, a club making its debut in the Mashonaland West Division 2B West league, bringing in a player of Chinyengetere’s stature is a clear statement of intent. It signals that the fourth-tier newcomers want to build with credibility, discipline and a long-term vision from day one.
Chinyengetere leaves behind a decorated playing career that set the benchmark in Zimbabwean football.
He won back-to-back Soccer Star of the Year awards in 2017 and 2018 while driving FC Platinum to league titles. His experience also stretches to the international stage with the Warriors, and to continental competition in the CAF Champions League.
Now, that pedigree is being applied at grassroots level. He will be assisted by young coach Fanuel Chogari as Nitazie begins shaping its technical structure. The opportunity came after the Kadoma based Nitazie bought the CS Five Stars franchise, giving them immediate entry into the provincial structure. The club is led by director and president Joseph 'Wasu' Nemakanga, with Faston Maruza serving as Club Chairperson.
Club director Joseph Nemakanga said he was delighted to have secured a team for the community, but stressed that Nitazie FC was bigger than any one individual. “I am delighted that we now have a team representing us, but I want to make it clear that this team is not for me. This team is for the entire Kadoma community,” Nemakanga said during the meeting.
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He also called on supporters to rally behind the new technical leadership. “We have brought in a big name in Rodwell Chinyengetere to lead this project. I appeal to all fans to support him in this new endeavor. Let us stand behind the coach and the technical team so that we can achieve our goals together," he concluded.
Speaking soon after his appointment, Chinyengetere was measured about expectations. “I will aim to help the club to a respectable position come the end of the season,” he told those gathered at Waverly. He added: “I thank the directorate for trusting me to carry the ship to greater heights. It’s a big responsibility, but we’re ready to work.”
For a Division 2B side, securing a coach with Champions League and Warriors experience is unusual. That background is expected to influence more than tactics. Club officials anticipate Chinyengetere will help instill professional standards in training, match preparation, player discipline and recruitment. Pairing him with Chogari also gives the bench a mix of proven experience and youthful energy.
Nitazie FC is positioning itself as more than just a senior team. It operates as the mother club to Waverly Chiefs Academy, which focuses on identifying and nurturing local talent in the area. With that structure in place, Chinyengetere’s role is likely to extend beyond the senior squad into pathway development, scouting and creating a professional culture from the ground up.
On operations, the team will train at Waverly Primary School, while Rimuka Stadium has been earmarked as the home ground for league fixtures. Chairperson Maruza echoed the call for unity. “The newly born baby team needs cooperation from the fans, players and executives so that the baby will be nurtured until it has grown,” he said. “I urge the fans, who are the owners of the team, to support the technical team so that it reaches its dream.” He noted that the appointment reflects the club’s commitment to building a competitive and professionally run outfit in Mashonaland West.
The appointment also has commercial implications. Chinyengetere’s name carries weight with sponsors, supporters and players. It is expected to boost attendance, attract partnership interest, and make it easier for Nitazie to draw quality players during preseason.
More broadly, his arrival raises the profile of Division 2B West. Rarely does a club at this level secure someone who has played at the top of African club football and for the national team. That could set a new benchmark for how provincial sides approach technical appointments.
