Sports / Soccer
Tsholotsho FC ropes in Kwinji 15
11 Jan 2015 at 05:48hrs | Views
YOUNG Mighty Warriors mentor Sithethelelwe "Kwinji 15" Sibanda is on the verge of making premiership football history by becoming the first female assistant coach to sit on the bench of any competitive men's football team in Zimbabwe amid reports that she is on the radar of newly promoted Premier Soccer League side Tsholotsho FC.
Impeccable sources at the recently promoted club said she was likely to be confirmed as assistant to the Zifa Southern Region championship winning coach Lizwe Sweswe. Sweswe has been given the thumbs up to stay on as the coach of the Matabeleland North-based side as they brace for their maiden appearance in the top flight league.
The sources revealed moves were being made behind the scenes to bring the former Mighty Warriors player on board although talks were still to be finalised between the two parties.
Sweswe could neither confirm nor deny that Sibanda might join him on the Tsholotsho bench but revealed they would be making an addition to their backroom staff. He said they were already in talks with possible candidates saying it would be premature to mention names.
"We realised we needed to have one more assistant coach in the technical department and we have identified the person but I don't think it would be appropriate to name that person at the moment because we are still negotiating and it wouldn't look good on our part," he said.
However, Sweswe revealed they had worked with Kwinji 15 before in the past seasons along with several other coaches such as sports journalist Sakhelene Nxumalo and Xolani Mafikela.
The Tsholotsho FC gaffer is currently assisted by Master Ngwenya and Edison Masilela, who is team manager.
Sources said Kwinji 15 was likely to become the first assistant because of her high coaching qualifications.
Sibanda, who also currently coaches women's Super League side, Inline Academy, denied being approached by Tsholotsho but admitted, having previously assisted Sweswe at the club.
"I have worked with him (Sweswe) before and at one point I was in charge of a pre-season training session last year while Sweswe was assessing the players, so our relationship is not new but they have not engaged me to become their assistant coach," she said.
Sibanda is one of the most highly qualified coaches in the country and holds a coaching instructor's qualification, a Caf A license and also attended a Germany B licence course in 2012.
Ironically, Tsholotsho FC chairman, Mlamuli Phiri confirmed on Wednesday that Sibanda was among several coaches they were considering recruiting to beef up their technical department.
Sources at the club also revealed that Nxumalo and Mafikela are also likely to be given roles at the club as they had been interviewed by the team.
"Nxumalo and Mafikela were interviewed by a panel that included the technical department and executive as Sweswe is eyeing them to come in and play different roles in the coaching department with the latter earmarked for a junior development and scouting post although their recruitment will depend on the availability of funds.
"Sweswe is intent on setting up a strong technical department that will cover all bases as he doesn't want to leave anything to chance," added the source.
Kwinji is on her way to joining Zenzile "Dolly" Mpofu in being among the local female coaches to coach topflight male football. Mpofu moved to Swaziland after being snubbed by authorities in this country, where she became head coach at premiership side Manzini Wanderers.
Sibanda has showed serious intent on becoming one of the top coaches in the country as she has not shied away from attaining coaching badges, joining her male counterparts in attending the highest courses on offer.
Kwinji, who has been involved in women football for the past two decades, said she will always be involved in women's football but time had come for her to start using her coaching badges "to put food on the table".
"I am looking forward to fully exploiting my qualifications and as you saw recently, I embarked on being a coaching instructor and I am open to taking up other coaching positions as I expand my career," she said.
Impeccable sources at the recently promoted club said she was likely to be confirmed as assistant to the Zifa Southern Region championship winning coach Lizwe Sweswe. Sweswe has been given the thumbs up to stay on as the coach of the Matabeleland North-based side as they brace for their maiden appearance in the top flight league.
The sources revealed moves were being made behind the scenes to bring the former Mighty Warriors player on board although talks were still to be finalised between the two parties.
Sweswe could neither confirm nor deny that Sibanda might join him on the Tsholotsho bench but revealed they would be making an addition to their backroom staff. He said they were already in talks with possible candidates saying it would be premature to mention names.
"We realised we needed to have one more assistant coach in the technical department and we have identified the person but I don't think it would be appropriate to name that person at the moment because we are still negotiating and it wouldn't look good on our part," he said.
However, Sweswe revealed they had worked with Kwinji 15 before in the past seasons along with several other coaches such as sports journalist Sakhelene Nxumalo and Xolani Mafikela.
The Tsholotsho FC gaffer is currently assisted by Master Ngwenya and Edison Masilela, who is team manager.
Sources said Kwinji 15 was likely to become the first assistant because of her high coaching qualifications.
Sibanda, who also currently coaches women's Super League side, Inline Academy, denied being approached by Tsholotsho but admitted, having previously assisted Sweswe at the club.
"I have worked with him (Sweswe) before and at one point I was in charge of a pre-season training session last year while Sweswe was assessing the players, so our relationship is not new but they have not engaged me to become their assistant coach," she said.
Sibanda is one of the most highly qualified coaches in the country and holds a coaching instructor's qualification, a Caf A license and also attended a Germany B licence course in 2012.
Ironically, Tsholotsho FC chairman, Mlamuli Phiri confirmed on Wednesday that Sibanda was among several coaches they were considering recruiting to beef up their technical department.
Sources at the club also revealed that Nxumalo and Mafikela are also likely to be given roles at the club as they had been interviewed by the team.
"Nxumalo and Mafikela were interviewed by a panel that included the technical department and executive as Sweswe is eyeing them to come in and play different roles in the coaching department with the latter earmarked for a junior development and scouting post although their recruitment will depend on the availability of funds.
"Sweswe is intent on setting up a strong technical department that will cover all bases as he doesn't want to leave anything to chance," added the source.
Kwinji is on her way to joining Zenzile "Dolly" Mpofu in being among the local female coaches to coach topflight male football. Mpofu moved to Swaziland after being snubbed by authorities in this country, where she became head coach at premiership side Manzini Wanderers.
Sibanda has showed serious intent on becoming one of the top coaches in the country as she has not shied away from attaining coaching badges, joining her male counterparts in attending the highest courses on offer.
Kwinji, who has been involved in women football for the past two decades, said she will always be involved in women's football but time had come for her to start using her coaching badges "to put food on the table".
"I am looking forward to fully exploiting my qualifications and as you saw recently, I embarked on being a coaching instructor and I am open to taking up other coaching positions as I expand my career," she said.
Source - Sunday News
