DeMbare coach wants Warriors job

Sport
The Zifa normalisation committee have begun searching for the next Warriors coach after the previous coach Norman Mapeza’s contract expired.

Dynamos coach Herbert Maruwa has declared his interest in the vacant Zimbabwe senior national football team coaching post.

The Zifa normalisation committee have begun searching for the next Warriors coach after the previous coach Norman Mapeza’s contract expired.

The local football association on Tuesday called for applications for the country’s top coaching job as well as for 13 other national team coaching vacancies.

Speaking to the media yesterday, Maruwa said it is his dream to coach the national team and he will throw in his application.

“It’s every coach’s dream to coach the national team and I’m no exception. I will definitely need to apply for the job. It’s my dream to coach the national team and I’m happy that my papers are in order,” said Maruwa who possesses the requisite CAF A License.

Aspiring candidates have until Friday to submit their applications.

The Warriors job is likely to attract a host of both foreign and local coaches.

While there is a general clamour for a foreign coach, Zifa has encouraged local coaches to apply.

The Warriors will be participating in the African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament as well as the 2026 World Cup qualifiers before the year end following the lifting of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) suspension on the country.

“The role represents a key position in the Zimbabwe national team set up in the cycle 2023-2028,” Zifa said in their advert about the Warriors job.

“The coach will be the head coach for the senior men national team and oversee the developmental sides' pathways U23, U20 and U17 for both men and women.

“With his technical team, he will lead the programme and preparations of the teams for the 2023 Chan qualifiers, Cosafa tournaments, Olympic Games qualifiers, 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the 2026 Fifa World Cup.”

Zifa is also looking to fill the position for Mighty Warriors head coach position as well as hiring mentors for junior teams for both men and women.

The Zifa normalisation committee has, however, come under fire for making elementary mistakes on their adverts for the senior men and women's coaching jobs as they appeared to be ignorant of the Confederation of African Footbal (Caf) requirements as far as the appointment of coaches at that level is concerned.

Caf set the CAF A License as the minimum requirement for presiding in continental club competitions and international matches.

Holders of Uefa Pro License can also coach in Caf organised tournaments.

However, the normalisation committee somehow listed the Uefa A License as an alternative yet the badge is below Caf’s minimum requirements to coach at that level.

The normalisation committee, led by former Dynamos chairperson Lincoln Mutasa, also blundered when they listed Caf B License as the minimum requirement to coach the Mighty Warriors, yet Caf regulations require that only holders of the Caf A License can train the senior national teams.

One of the committee members Skhumbuzo Ndebele said yesterday that they hope to have filled vacant posts within 21 days.

They will start off by appointing a technical committee which will drive the recruitment of coaches.

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