Tamirepi new ZPC Kariba coach
MUCH-TRAVELLED coach Godfrey Tamirepi is set to revive his romance with Premiership side ZPC Kariba after he was shortlisted to take over the job that fell vacant at the end of the season.
The 47-year-old mentor is set to replace veteran Sunday Chidzambwa, who chose not to renew his contract under a dark cloud.
Sources told The Herald that Tamirepi will be assisted by former Hwange coach Mebelo Njekwa while Chenjerai Dube comes in as goalkeepers’ trainer.
Ex-Zimbabwe midfielder Kennedy Nagoli completes the technical bench in his new capacity as the team manager. ZPC Kariba are expected to make an official announcement in the coming days.
Tamirepi, who has also coached several clubs in Botswana and Swaziland, is returning to Kariba three years after he had worked with the team as assistant to Saul Chaminuka.
He had also previously coached former Premiership side Hardbody. But three years after his last stint in Kariba, he has been given the thumps up to return.
ZPC Kariba have been hunting for a new technical team since last year when Chidzambwa indicated that he was not renewing his contract following a disappointing season in which they finished 10th.
The electricity men had exuded massive potential in the first half of the season, but their fortunes took a turn for the worse amid revelations in a leaked audio which suggested that the outgoing coach Chidzambwa’s relationship with the executive had irretrievably broken down.
There were allegations of sabotaging the technical team which also had Brenna Msiska and Paul Chimalizeni.
The club had hoped to lure Lloyd Chitembwe from CAPS United, but their advances failed to bear fruit as the 2016 Coach of the Year chose to continue with his project at the Green Machine whom he helped win the title two years ago and ending an 11-year drought in the process.
Former Motor Action and Chicken Inn coach Joey Antipas, ex-Gunners mentor Darlington Dodo and Rodwell Dhlakama were also reported to be on the radar, but the side settled for their former assistant coach Tamirepi to return to Nyamhunga to spearhead their revival.
Tamirepi was assistant coach at ZPC Kariba in 2014, when the team went all the way under Chaminuka and nearly won the championship.
They, however, floundered on the last day of the campaign when they lost to CAPS United in the last match.
The coaches were then fired early into the following season after a poor start and reports of squabbling between the technical team and the leadership. THE New Winners tennis tournament took off yesterday in Harare with Zimbabwe’s representatives for the ITF/CAT Southern Africa Junior championships putting up some good performances as they make their final touches for the regional event starting next week.
The three-day tournament attracted around 150 players, competing from Under-10 to Under-18 at Harare Sports Club and Old Hararians.
For most of the players this being the first local tournament for the year, it’s an opportunity to check their readiness for regional and international tournaments lined up for the year.
And some of the zonal championships’ team members to play in Botswana next week are taking advantage of the competition to fine tune their preparations.
In the girls section Claire Machisa, who will represent the country in the girls Under14 beat Rumbidzai Sachiti 6-0, 6-0 in the Under-18 quarter-finals yesterday.
She had a bye in the first round and believes taking on the Under-18s will only put her in a better position come the zonal championships.
“I think I really want to work hard so that I can win and then also play hard so that I can get training for zonals. I have been training so hard with my coach, coach Gwinyai (Tongoona) and with my friends (we had) practice matches, with Rufaro Magarira and Tsitsi Mahere,” said Machisa.
The 13-year-old is looking beyond the zonals as she holds high hopes of qualifying for the African Junior Championships during the zonals.
Top seed for girls Under-18 Rufaro Magarira beat Primrose Tayambuka 6-0, 6-0. This is also part of her build-up for the zonals where she will represent the country in the Under-16 age-group.
“It’s (the tournament) okay because it’s also practice matches and everything, so it’s good. I am just going to do my best. Maybe try and reach the semi-finals, quarters. I am really happy to be representing Zimbabwe at the zonals,” said Magarira.
It was the same story for Tsitsi Mahere as she dismissed Elizabeth Kuona 6-1, 6-1.
Boys Under-14 representative Benedict Badza beat Marko Milosavljevic 7-6(3), 6-0 and hopefully they continue with the good run to boost their confidence ahead of next week’s event which targets Under-14 and Under-16 boys and girls.
It was also a good start for the Under-18 girls second seed Beverly Matsiwe as she beat Deborah Mhizha 6-0, 6-1. Nandi Munyulwa was also not to be outdone when she overpowered Natalie Mandidewa 6-2, 6-2.
The boys section saw Stanley Muneri beating Conroy Gatsi 6-1, 6-1 in his opening match while Kudakwashe Sandi dismissed Panashe Gurira 6-0, 6-0.
James Makaranga also had a good start defeating Munyaradzi Musanhi 7-6(7), 6-3.
In the Under-14 boys Emmanuel Mupanduki dismissed Tinaye Tongoona 6-0, 6-0 in straight sets.
Thompson Tomu beat Godfrey Nathan 6-1, 6-0 and Takunda Gara proved to be too good for Nigel Nyamugonekwa with 6-0, 6-0 victory in the boys Under-12.
It was also an interesting start for Ruvarashe Magarira when she defeated Natasha Chidzvondo 6-0, 6-1 in the girls Under-12 to proceed to the next round. The tournament runs until tomorrow.