Zim coach still Leopards big fan
Sunday led club to promotion in 2011
“It depends a lot of the desire of the coach.
I just think most naturally gravitate to being the goalkeeper trainer. I got my chance to coach while I was still a player and that, I guess, comes with having the right leadership qualities.” When Black Leopards won promotion to the PSL seven years ago, it was thanks to one Sunday Chidzambwa. Chidzambwa, who hails from Zimbabwe, first experienced SA football with PSL side Free State Stars in 2010, but was let go after drawing their first three matches. He surfaced at Leopards, who were in NFD. Chidzambwa did not only guide them to promotion in 2011, they also reached the Nedbank Cup final which they lost to Orlando Pirates. Trusted by Lidoda Duvha boss David Thidiela for their 2011/12 campaign in top-flight, he lasted just nine games – one win, three draws and five defeats – and Leopards hired Serbian Vladislav Heric. With Heric at the helm, Leopards finished 14th, but then finished bottom the next season and were relegated. Chidzambwa, who still keeps a close eye on the side from Limpopo, was delighted when they won promotion. “I was watching the game at home [when they beat Jomo Cosmos 1-0 in Thohoyandou] and I was very pleased for my former boss [David Thidiela],” said the coach, from Polokwane where Zimbabwe are playing in the Cosafa Cup. “I think he did well in the last four years ... Mr Thidiela and Mr [Joel] Masutha [the coach] did a good job. I’m quite pleased for them. I will call to congratulate him.”
Meanwhile, Chidzambwa’s side are in the Cosafa Cup quarterfinals after beating Botswana on penalties at the weekend. The defending champions face Lesotho tomorrow at 7.30pm.
Chidzambwa explained why he had picked a starstudded side that has Khama Billiat, Evans Rusike, Ovidy Karuru, Talent Chawapiwa and George Chigova, who are all playing in the PSL.
“We are looking beyond the Cosafa Cup. We want to have a strong team when we play the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers [later this year],” he said.