×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Zifa meets on Warriors coach

Sport
Zifa will convene an emergency board meeting on Saturday to appoint a substantive Warriors coach ahead of an international friendly match against Zambia on August 8. The national team is under caretaker coach Rahman Gumbo, who replaced Norman Mapeza following the former Darryn T defender’s suspension on allegations of match-fixing. Gumbo has been in charge […]

Zifa will convene an emergency board meeting on Saturday to appoint a substantive Warriors coach ahead of an international friendly match against Zambia on August 8.

The national team is under caretaker coach Rahman Gumbo, who replaced Norman Mapeza following the former Darryn T defender’s suspension on allegations of match-fixing.

Gumbo has been in charge of two World Cup matches against Guinea and Mozambique, losing one and drawing the other. He was also in charge of two 2013 Africa Cup of Nations matches against Burundi, where he lost one and won the return leg.

Mapeza is yet to be cleared by the retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ahmed Ebrahim-led Ethics Committee. But even before they meet on Sartuday, Gumbo will probably have named his team, increasing speculation that the board has already settled for the former Highlanders, Caps United and FC Platinum coach.

Zifa has been negotiating with Mbada Diamonds Holdings to foot the bills of a fulltime coach. There has also been talk of a foreign coach, although Zifa prefers to go local. The technical team meets this Friday to deliberate on the squad for the Zambia friendly.

“We are meeting this Friday and we will possibly finalise on the team,” Gumbo told NewsDay Sport yesterday.

Gumbo, who recently lost his job at FC Platinum, said he was not close to a return to club football. “I have not thought about that. I am just resting for now.”

With the game outside the Fifa international calendar, Gumbo will again travel with a truncated local squad, but could add former Railstars defender Zimiseleni Moyo, who turns out for giants Zesco United in the Faz Super League (Zambia).

“I know the player, but it has been some time since I last saw him in action. I will ask my friend Beston (Chambeshi, Power Dynamos coach) to give me an update on his performances.” Moyo, though, doubts he will be called-up for the friendly.

Moyo, who recently returned from a two-month layoff, has had an impressive first half of the 2012 MTN-Faz Super Division season under new Zesco coach Wedson Nyirenda.

The 26-year-old left-back told MTNFootball.com that a call-up from Gumbo will be a big surprise. “For this game it will be a little bit tricky because I played just one game after returning from injury,” Moyo said. “Maybe the next game, but the Zambia game? I doubt for now. If it can happen, it will be a surprise call.”

The match will be played in Ndola where Moyo is based with Zesco.

Moyo has been second preferance in Zesco’s first 11 at left-back this season.

The Zimbabwean had an outstanding game for Zesco on his return from injury on July 14 against leaders Zanaco despite his club’s 2-1 away loss to the latter.

The defender arrived at Zesco last season, but was rarely used by former coaches Fighton Simukonda and later Masautso Mwale.

Meanwhile, Power Dynamos benchwarmer Sebastian Mwansa has received a call-up for Zambia’s friendly against Zimbabwe.

The 2007 Fifa Under-20 World Cup finalist is one of five players called up on Monday for the August 8 friendly in Ndola.

Mwansa, who arrived at Power this season from Democratic Republic of Congo side TP Mazembe, has not played competitively since May.

The midfielder is one of two Power players added to the team.

Striker Graven Chitalu currently leads the MTN-Faz Super Division top scorers’ charts with 10 goals in 17 games.