Cosafa schools tourney affects filling of TD job

THE forthcoming Cosafa Schools Under-15 tournament for both boys and girls has affected the recruitment of the next ZIFA technical director to replace William Mutekede.

This was revealed by the ZIFA Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa at the weekend.

Zimbabwe is playing host to the tournament which is in its second year.

This year, instead of an individual schools, countries will field national teams of the age-group. The advantage with this is that the best Under15 talent of a nation will get international exposure across nine other member States.

Mutasa said the technical director’s job was a key element in the operations of the national association and hence needed filling as soon as possible. He, however, indicated that the tournament had affected the exercise in which FIFA has a vested interest in.

The tournament starts at Gateway College, Harare West on Thursday and ends two days later.

In an interview on Saturday afternoon Mutasa said:

“This is a very important post in the association. FIFA has a lot of interest in it too so its filling is key and has to be done urgently.”

Mutasa could not be drawn to disclose how many locals and foreigners were after the job.

“Our human resources component is looking at the applications at the moment. There is nothing we can say about applicants for now,” said Mutasa.

A number of leading coaches in the country, some with a good academic and teaching background are said to have applied and are leading the race.

ZIFA are keen on someone with the ability to plan, draft programmes, supervise implementation, monitor and evaluate qualities that may disqualify a number of former players as a majority have a weaker academic standing.

While it could not be ascertained which coaches from the teaching field had applied, investigations by Zimpapers Sports reveal that Rodwell Dhlakama, Bongani Mafu, Taurai Mangwiro, Dumaza Dube, Dalubuhle Bhebhe, Philani Mabhena, Maxwell Jongwe and Irene Mwanza are teachers with Caf A and B credentials.