From Barry Daka to Chiragwi
THREE decades ago, the late Barry Daka became the first coach to win the Premier Soccer League (PSL) championship, after guiding Highlanders to the podium, in the first ever top-flight race following a decision by clubs to break away from ZIFA’s Super League.
Daka was 45 and since his historic triumph in 1993, 16 other coaches have won the
PSL title in the last 30 years.
A number of records have also been broken, while interesting pieces of history have been written and rewritten along the way.
Takesure Chiragwi is the latest winner of the PSL championship and he was still 39 when he guided Ngezi Platinum Stars to their maiden title last month.
Chiragwi, who turns 40 today, is one of the youngest coaches to land the ultimate prize in domestic club football. But he is not the youngest to achieve that feat. Norman Mapeza was only 36 when he won his maiden championship with the now defunct Monomotapa back in 2008.
The late Rahman Gumbo was also 36 when he guided Bosso to the 1999 title, before Charles Mhlauri achieved the same feat, at the same age, with CAPS United in 2004. However, the record for the youngest coach to land the championship belongs to Methembe Ndlovu, who was just 33 years old when he won it with Highlanders in 2006.
Ironically, it was in the same year that Bosso last won the league title.
Since then, the Highlanders family has endured a frustrating wait to be crowned champions again.
The late British coach, Eddie May, is one of the oldest gaffers to win a PSL title. He was 58 when he won his second straight championship with Highlanders in 2002.
Seasoned coach Joey Antipas was 59 when he won his second league championship with Chicken Inn in 2015, five years after winning his first with the now defunct Motor Action. However, May remains the only foreign coach to win the local Premiership title.
A number of foreign coaches have tried their luck in the Zimbabwe championship marathon but none of them managed to cross the finish line. The long list includes Dutchmen Clemence Westerhof, Pieter de Jongh and Erol Akbay; Zambians Fewdays Musonda, Keegan Mumba, Dick Chama, Freddy Mwila, Kelvin Kaindu and Tennant Chilumba; all tried without success.
It was a similar tale for Irishman Sean Connor, Egyptian Mohamad Fahty, Brazilian Brito, Briton Mark Harrison and Portuguese Paulo Jorge Silva. Interestingly, only Antipas and Mapeza have won the PSL title with two different clubs.
“As coaches, we all have the same mentality, that is, to win trophies and cups. We all want to do well,” Mapeza said.
The revered gaffer, who has won the Coach of the Year award three times, also discussed the situation of young coaches in the PSL.
“When you are a young coach and you arrive at a club, normally, people won’t have trust and faith in you. It becomes difficult but you have to have belief in yourself, and results will come.”
After winning his first championship with the now-defunct Monomotapa in 2008, Mapeza had to wait for another nine years before bagging his second with FC Platinum in 2017.
“A new club comes with a new environment but it’s all about your philosophy, your principles as a coach. When I went to Zvishavane to join FC Platinum back in 2014, there was talk that maybe I was not going to last long but I stayed there, persevered and won titles.
“Yes, I have won championships with two different clubs and I am one of the youngest to win the title but the 2017 title is close to my heart. Why? Because we took away the title from Harare and Bulawayo for the first time in 50 years.
“Then obviously the 2022 title, when we made it four championships in a row for FC Platinum.”
Mapeza has committed his immediate future to FC Platinum, despite failing to retain the title this season. But he is hoping to bounce back next year.
However, like most of his colleagues in the game, he wants to enjoy his Christmas holidays first. “I just wish everybody a Happy Xmas, an incident-free holiday, and people should not get overexcited.
“There is no need to drink and drive. To the players, I want to say please keep yourself away from drugs. You have got a career ahead of you and we want to see everyone back for the next season,”said Mapeza.
Recently crowned Coach of the Year Chiragwi feels the Premiership needs a good mix of young coaches and veterans.“It’s good for young coaches to make an impact. It’s good for the development of the game,” said Chiragwi.