Fungai Muderere
EIGHT years after embarrassingly watching their then Under-17 charges together with ex-Dynamos gaffer Llyod Chigove fail to travel to Congo for a reverse fixture of the 2015 African Championship qualifier, Zimbabwean football legend Agent “Ajira” Sawu has welcomed his recent appointment as national Under-15 head coach.
Due to their failure to travel to Congo, the Under-17 team was subsequently“banned” by the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF).
The axe fell on Zimbabwean youth teams in 2012 when firstly the Under-20 team failed to fulfil their return leg in Angola in an African Championship qualifier after ZIFA cancelled the trip at the last minute, citing a lack of funds.
As if that was not enough, the national Under-17 team again failed to travel to Congo in November 2012 as they were trailing 1-2 with ZIFA failing to secure money for airfares.
Interestingly, the Zimbabwe Under-17 and Under-20 soccer teams, who in the public domain are believed to have been banned after failing to fulfil return matches, were never officially banned or fined by Caf but at the same time were somehow not considered for the qualifiers of the Afcon tournaments finals which were played in Niger and Senegal respectively.
Sawu’s selection as Under-15 head coach came as the former Warriors striker’s name and that of Vitalis Takawira and Clemence Matawu were thrown into the fray to succeed Wellington Mpandare, who has been the national team manager for the past couple of years.
“What happened eight years ago, is now water under the bridge because it is always an honour to work for your country,” said the soft spoken Sawu, who will also be Mike Madzivanyika’s understudy in the Under-17s.
In the new Under-15 technical set-up, Sawu will work hand in glove with Hope Bera who will be in charge of the goalkeeping department in which James Mohala and Highlanders’ Melusi “Mabaleka” Sibanda will be assistant coaches.
Having worked with Bantu Rovers’ Under-13, 15, 17 and senior team,Sawu, a football great that played for Zimbabwe Saints before he left the country and spent 10 years overseas, the bulk of the time being consumed in Switzerland, reckoned he was entering familiar territory.
“I have worked with juniors for a long time and I don’t think my recent appointment will give me problems,” he said.
The country’s football mother body’s new technical teams appointment saw Highlanders score a hat-trick after all their three senior team coaches Bekithemba Ndlovu, Mandla Mpofu and Sibanda got national team appointments in a development that saw 10 Bulawayo-based coaches being given national assignments.
Mpofu will assist Tonderayi Ndiraya in the Under-23 squad and Ndlovu will deputise Philani Ncube in the Under-20 national side. Zifa announced coaches for all representative men’s and women’s national teams, with Croatian Zdravko Logarušic heading the senior men’s national team.
Sithethelelwe Sibanda kept her Mighty Warriors’ job and will be assisted by Under-20 head coach Rosemary Mugadza, with Highlanders’ legend Peter Nkomo coming in as goalkeepers’ coach.
Other Bulawayo-based coaches that received national assignments include Bulawayo Chiefs gaffer Thulani Sibanda (Women’s Under-17 head coach) as well as Nomsa Moyo, who will assist Mugadza in the Under-20 women’s side.
Zifa executive committee member and chairman of the Technical Development Committee Bryton Malandule said his committee would hold an orientation meeting for all national teams’ coaches before the end of the year.
