Warriors substantive coach ‘soon’
ZIFA will soon be announcing a substantive coach to guide the senior national team in their 2026 Fifa World Cup and 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
Yesterday Zifa announced the re-appointment of FC Platinum coach Norman Mapeza but just for the duration of the fourteam tournament in Malawi next week.
The tournament involves Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya and hosts Malawi from March 18-26. The event, which utilises the Fifa calendar, will help participating countries prepare for the resumption of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.
In the absence of a substantive coach, the Zifa Normalisation Committee decided to give the assignment to Mapeza, who has been in the role before.
He will be assisted by reigning Castle Lager Coach of the Year and Ngezi Platinum coach, Takesure Chiragwi.
In response to an inquiry by Zimpapers Sports, Zifa said:
“The association will soon be announcing a substantive head coach and technical team to oversee the Warriors FIFA World Cup qualifiers and AFCON qualifying campaign.”
There are, however, concerns that the benefits of the tournament will not be fully realised by Zimbabwe as the coaches involved might not even be involved when a substantive set-up is announced.
In an earlier statement, Zifa said: “ZIFA is pleased to announce that Norman Mapeza has been appointed as the interim head coach of the men’s Zimbabwe national team, for the upcoming four-nations tournament in Malawi. The tournament which will be played in Lilongwe from the 18th-26th of March, features hosts Malawi, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
“Norman Mapeza is the current head coach of Zimbabwe Premier League side FC Platinum with whom he has won multiple league titles. He is also a former national team captain and has had several stints as head coach of the men’s senior national team. “Norman Mapeza will be assisted by Ngezi Platinum Stars head coach, Takesure Chiragwi.”
Meanwhile, Zifa says new national Under-20 coach Simon Marange signed a long-term contract that is, however, performance-based.
“ZIFA is pleased to announce that Simon Marange has been appointed as the new Head Coach of the U20 men’s Zimbabwe national team.
“Simon Marange currently serves as the Orlando Pirates reserve team coach. He was promoted from the U21s of Orlando Pirates whom he coached from 2020-2023. Between 2018-2020, Marange was the U17 coach of Orlando Pirates, winning the Future Champions Trophy, beating Osasuna, Club Brugge, and Spartak Moscow on the way to the final in a tournament boasting the likes of FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid as former winners.
“He brings to Zimbabwe football, his strength and experience in working with elite youth players in their professional development phase, bridging the last step into professional football. Simon Marange will be assisted by former Aces Academy head coach, Backlyfield Chivenga.”
Responding to Zimpapers Sports, Zifa said:
“Simon Marange has signed a long-term contract with periodic performance-based reviews in place.”
Warriors squad Goalkeepers: Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn), Martin Mapisa ( Dynamos), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford B England)
Defenders: Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield Town, England, Devine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns), Gerald Takwara (Ohod FC Saudi Arabia), Kevin Moyo (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Konyaspor Turkey), Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Munashe Garan’anga (KV Mechelen Belgium), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Brandon Galloway (Plymouth Argyle England), Jordan Zemura (Udinese Italy), Joey Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday England).
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi(Reims France), Junior Makunike (Simba Bhora), Tivonge Rushesha (Reading England), Andy Rinomhota (Rotherham England), Tawanda Chirewa (Wolves England) Walter Musona (Simba Bhora)
Strikers: Tino Kadewere (Nantes France), Daniel Msendami (Jwaneng Galaxy Botswana) Tawanda Maswanhise (Leicester England), Macauley Bonne (Cambridge United England)
Under-20 squad Goalkeepers: Isaacs Rutsito (CAPS United) Tariq Ngwenya (Herentals)
Defenders: Mvelo Khoza(Highlanders), Allan Karakadzai (Simba Stars) Allan Chapinduka (AYISA), Nyaradzai Ndlovu (Ngezi U19), Terence Chiyangwa (Green Fuel), Denzel John (Norton Community)
Midfielders: Quinton Longwe (Hwange), Blessed Mashonganyika ( Bikita Minerals), Attitude Munsaka (Hwange), Takunda Nyangani (Yadah), Taffy Morris Musamba (Green Fuel), Nisbert Muzenda (Ngezi Platinum), Prince Ndlovu (Highlanders), Mafios Chihweta (Dynamos), Leon Usai (CAPS United), Alpha Chiwashira (Chicken Inn)
Strikers: Leon Daka (Herentals), Sean Mushangazhike (Golden Eagles), Simba Delroy Gunda (CAPS United), Charlie Hermish (Legends Academy), Flojineki Tyorahuni (AYISA), Onesimo Hlabano (Hwange), Denzel Washington Mapuwa (Green Fuel), Elton Chikona (Dynamos)
Coach: Simon Marange
TRIATHLON coach Pamela Fulton is looking forward to some exciting competition when Team Zimbabwe takes to the course on Friday at the ongoing African Games in Ghana.
The triathlon team consisting of Andie Kuipers, Lorna Doorman, Rohnan Nicholson, and Callum Smith, arrived in Accra on Monday.
Speaking from Ghana, Fulton said the team was still trying to acclimatise to the hot weather conditions and remained hopeful of a good outing.“We arrived yesterday (Monday) midday in Ghana to find it exceptionally hot . . . So we are trying to get acclimatised as best as we can. Travelling through the night also, the team is a little bit tired.
“We tested all the bikes yesterday; everyone’s bike is good. Rohnan has developed a little bit of an ear infection, so we were at the medical tent last night trying to get it resolved. We have got to get back again today to find out what’s wrong with the ear.
“Hopefully (its) nothing serious,” said Fulton.
The triathlon competition is scheduled for Friday. Kuipers is making her second appearance at the Games having been to the 2019 Games in Morocco.
She won bronze at the 2019 edition and will be hoping to produce another podium performance. Kuipers, who is also pursuing qualification for the 2024 Olympic Games, is competing in the elite women together with Doorman.
Nicholson and Smith are expected to represent the country in the elite men.
For the upcoming triathletes, their participation is more on the development side.
“The women and the men, both race on Friday.
“The lady’s race starts at 10:30 and the elite men’s race starts at 12:30. So it’s going to be an incredibly hot time of the day for them. “Lorna is relatively new to the sport. She is used to competitive racing in swimming but not used to competitive racing in triathlon.*
“She has got that mindset and she is older than the rest of the team. So I do not doubt that she will perform well.
“There is no pressure on her being a bit of the underdog, no one knows what she is like. But she is a really good swimmer and I do believe she will probably be out of the water near the front, if not the first lady out of the water. “Her bike is her weakness. It’s going to be interesting to see how she compares against the other ladies on the bike course. It’s a technical bike course and Andie is very good with technique on the bike, so she is used to racing from behind trying to catch those up in front.
“Andie will be good on this kind of course. It will be interesting to see how Lorna is, but she also has a phenomenal run as well so I do believe Lorna will have a really good race.
“She (Lorna) has got the foundations for a good triathlete with a solid swim and run and is excited for the future to see what her career in triathlon ends up with,”said Fulton.
Fulton is joined by coach Martin Mbofana in leading the team and they have had the chance to visit the competition venue.
“We went to the Borteyman Aquatic Centre yesterday as that’s where our race is.
“We did have a little look at the venue. We have a rough idea of what the bike course is going to be like and we weren’t able to practice because there is too much traffic at the moment, so we will get to ride on the actual course on Thursday.“Aquatic Centre is really beautiful, everyone was impressed with it. And I think they are all looking forward to being able to do a swim in the 50m pool to get to feel what the pool is like on Friday,” said Fulton.