News / National
Zimbabwe Warriors coaching chaos
26 May 2024 at 08:42hrs | Views
Disagreements between the ZIFA Normalization Committee and Solomon Mudege, FIFA's head of development programmes for Africa, have caused a delay in appointing the Warriors coach and thwarted Baltemar Brito's return to the helm.
Mudege, along with FIFA Forward manager Kudzi Chitima and ZIFA CEO Yvonne Mapika Manwa, had informally offered Brito the job and asked him to select players for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and South Africa. However, when ZIFA officials discovered Brito's criticism of their handling of previous qualifiers, they refused to finalize the appointment.
As a result, newly appointed interim coach Jairos Tapera will work with the squad Brito had chosen, adapting tactics accordingly for the matches against Lesotho and South Africa.
Tapera is the fourth interim coach since the ZIFA Normalization Committee's appointment, following Sunday Chidzambwa, Brito, and Norman Mapeza.
Though ZIFA has not officially disclosed the squad selected by Brito, reports suggest it includes players like Tawanda Chirewa, Jordan Zemura, Teenage Hadebe, Marvelous Nakamba, Tino Kadewere, Marshall Munetsi, Donavan Bernard, Martin Mapisa, Emmanuel Jalai, and Andy Rinomhota.
While Mudege supported Brito's reappointment, the Normalization Committee rejected it due to Brito's prior criticism. A compromise led to the selection of Tapera, assisted by Chiragwi and Chaminuka.
Tivonge Rushesha, critical of ZIFA's handling of players' welfare, was reportedly excluded from the squad. Rushesha's criticism resulted in delays in his allowances from a previous tournament in Malawi, leading to his exclusion from the team.
Despite ongoing negotiations for a permanent coach, Tapera and his team's performance in upcoming matches could determine their future with the team.
Mudege, along with FIFA Forward manager Kudzi Chitima and ZIFA CEO Yvonne Mapika Manwa, had informally offered Brito the job and asked him to select players for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and South Africa. However, when ZIFA officials discovered Brito's criticism of their handling of previous qualifiers, they refused to finalize the appointment.
As a result, newly appointed interim coach Jairos Tapera will work with the squad Brito had chosen, adapting tactics accordingly for the matches against Lesotho and South Africa.
Tapera is the fourth interim coach since the ZIFA Normalization Committee's appointment, following Sunday Chidzambwa, Brito, and Norman Mapeza.
While Mudege supported Brito's reappointment, the Normalization Committee rejected it due to Brito's prior criticism. A compromise led to the selection of Tapera, assisted by Chiragwi and Chaminuka.
Tivonge Rushesha, critical of ZIFA's handling of players' welfare, was reportedly excluded from the squad. Rushesha's criticism resulted in delays in his allowances from a previous tournament in Malawi, leading to his exclusion from the team.
Despite ongoing negotiations for a permanent coach, Tapera and his team's performance in upcoming matches could determine their future with the team.
Source - online
