Sports / Local
Mhlauri turns down Zifa advances
24 Jun 2012 at 05:23hrs | Views
Former Warriors coach Charles Mhlauri has turned down requests by the current Zifa board for him to return to the Warriors fold. Mhlauri, who is currently director of coaching at Lightning Soccer Club in the United States, was approached by the current Zifa board with a view to taking over the reins in the Warriors dugout, but turned down the offer.
The two-time title-winning coach instead threw his full weight behind the Rahman Gumbo-led technical department to take the Warriors to the next level.
Speaking from his US base, Mhlauri conceded that he had been contacted by Zifa, but was not in a position to discuss details of his engagements with the media.
"Out of respect, I think the discussions that I have held with Zifa will remain private and confidential. I respect the Zifa board and it will be unprofessional for me to discuss my communications with Zifa in the media," he said.
"Coaching the national team is every coach's dream. When the Zimbabweans gave me that profound honour and support, I was really humbled. I will never turn my back on my country. (But) at the moment I think Rahman, Peter (Ndlovu) and David (Mandigora) deserve our support to achieve," said Mhlauri.
"I think Rahman will be the first to tell you he has not accomplished his mandate, which is a qualification to South Africa 2013. A mandate should never be a single or two games but the ultimate qualification and winning. I also congratulate them for winning under very difficult conditions," he added.
The two-time title-winning coach instead threw his full weight behind the Rahman Gumbo-led technical department to take the Warriors to the next level.
Speaking from his US base, Mhlauri conceded that he had been contacted by Zifa, but was not in a position to discuss details of his engagements with the media.
"Out of respect, I think the discussions that I have held with Zifa will remain private and confidential. I respect the Zifa board and it will be unprofessional for me to discuss my communications with Zifa in the media," he said.
"Coaching the national team is every coach's dream. When the Zimbabweans gave me that profound honour and support, I was really humbled. I will never turn my back on my country. (But) at the moment I think Rahman, Peter (Ndlovu) and David (Mandigora) deserve our support to achieve," said Mhlauri.
"I think Rahman will be the first to tell you he has not accomplished his mandate, which is a qualification to South Africa 2013. A mandate should never be a single or two games but the ultimate qualification and winning. I also congratulate them for winning under very difficult conditions," he added.
Source - SM
