BACK TO THE ROOTS: Zuze, Muzadzi rejoin DeMbare

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
TRIANGLE coaches Biggie Zuze and Gift “Umbro” Muzadzi have retraced their roots to Dynamos after they were roped into the new technical set-up at the Harare giants ahead of the 2015 season.

After weeks of speculation that followed the appointment of David Mandigora as Callisto Pasuwa’s replacement at Dynamos, Zuze and Muzadzi will leave Triangle to complete the DeMbare technical crew that also has Tonderai Ndiraya returning as one of the assistant coaches.

While Dynamos have now completed their coaching department ahead of the new season, a cloud of uncertainty still hangs over the set-up at their bitter city rivals CAPS United, who look set to remain coachless going into the New Year.

CAPS United were left without a coach after Taurai Mangwiro dumped them to join Harare City and took with him his lieutenant at the Green Machine, Mike Madzivanyika.

Makepekepe are also faced with a massive player exodus as a number of the players who played a key role in their third place finish on the Premiership standings are set to walk out on the club.

Such players like skipper Tapiwa Khumbuyani and goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube could join the likes of Kelvin Bulaji, Tendai Samanja, Dominic Chungwa, who have already left CAPS United.

This means CAPS United would not only have to identify and announce a new coach in the next few days but that gaffer would also have to hit the ground running in search of players.

There are no such problems, however, at DeMbare, who welcomed back the pair of former midfielder Zuze and ex-goalkeeper Muzadzi. who will replace Tichaona Diya as the goalkeepers’ coach.

The duo was recommended by Mandigora. who will be looking to maintain the dominance that Dynamos have enjoyed on the domestic scene under Pasuwa.

Officials at the reigning Premiership champions yesterday confirmed that Muzadzi’s deal is done and dusted although they were not at liberty to reveal the name of the second assistant coach, who The Herald is reliably informed is Zuze.

Dynamos secretary-general Webster Chikengezha said they have concluded their negotiations with Muzadzi to come on board as a direct replacement for Diya.

The former Warriors skipper had a successful playing career with the Glamour Boys and also briefly worked as an assistant coach with them during some of the club’s turbulent moments in 2002.

Chikengezha said his management was excited to have sealed the appointments of their coaches and were now looking forward to the commencement of the pre-season.

“I can confirm we have finalised our technical team and, yes, Muzadzi is one of the coaches we expect to work with. Unfortunately, I cannot name the other coach because there are some issues that need to be cleared before his name can be announced.

“This can be done in the next two days, I think. We are happy though because what it means is that all departments are now represented and we can only look forward to a fruitful season,” said Chikengezha.

Muzadzi and Zuze worked together at Triangle last year but the former goalkeeper could not complete his tenure as he was sacked following a misunderstanding with the club’s executive.

Zuze’s contract with the Lowveld side is expected to officially run out tomorrow, which could be the reason why he doesn’t want his name to be announced as he has some outstanding issues to attend to with his former paymasters.

Nevertheless, The Herald has gathered that Zuze who won the One Wallet Cup with Triangle following a penalty shootout triumph over Dynamos, is set to reunite with his former Glamour Boys teammate Mandigora.

Although Zuze was linked to the Dynamos job and was on the verge of coming in as an assistant to Pasuwa a deal could not materialise as the record four-time Championship-winning coach insisted he was comfortable working with the backroom staff that had Philemon Mutyakureva and Herbert Maruwa as assistants.

Zuze, who had joined Triangle from Monomotapa, then had to contend with a difficult spell at the Lowveld side, which ended in a frantic battle to survive relegation and speculation that he was to be sacked with Kelvin Kaindu touted to replace him.

There have not been efforts from both sides to negotiate for an extension of his stay and it appears Zuze had to retrace his footsteps back to Dynamos as he felt his services were no longer required.

But the duo of Muzadzi and Zuze are not entirely new to the coaching roles at Dynamos. Besides playing for the club, Muzadzi worked as assistant coach to Moses Chunga alongside Callisto Pasuwa at the turn of the millennium. Zuze was also an assistant to David George at the club.

The arrivals of Mandigora, Zuze, Ndiraya and Muzadzi means that Richard Chihoro is the only survivor from the previous technical team after he was given the thumbs up to continue as team manager alongside the club’s physiotherapist Knowledge Zambo.

But while DeMbare appear to be making slow progress, rivals CAPS United appear to be stuck in the mud following Mangwiro’s resignation.

CAPS United are believed to have targeted Jostein Mathuthu as Manwgiro’s replacement.

The Green Machine chief executive, Joe Makuvire, yesterday maintained that the situation at CAPS United was under control. “People will always speculate and it’s always their constitutional right to do so. What I can only say at the moment is that we now have a technical team in place and we will announce it after the New Year’s holidays.

“It’s not proper for me to comment on speculation. We will unveil the coach when the right time comes. If it’s him (Mathuthu) then we will unveil him and if he is not then you will get to know the correct things,” Makuvire said.

The Green Machine have been reeling under the current economic difficulties and they face the prospect of losing several of their key players whose contracts have run out. There is also an air of uncertainty over the futures of Warriors defender Hardlife Zvirekwi while Young Warriors’ Ronald Pfumbidzai is also unsettled at the club although he still has a year on his contract.

“We hope to be retaining the bulk of our squad. But we will not stand in the way of those whose contracts have expired and are determined they want to go.

“It’s not a secret the club has been operating under difficult circumstances but we are working to sort out that part. What we want are players who are prepared to give their best to the club,” said Makuvire.

“There are some players we had wanted to retain like (Tendai) Samanja and it’s unfortunate he had to go because we couldn’t afford to keep him. But then we have also been busy on the market. We have about nine players that we are expecting to join us this season as replacements. An announcement will be made in due course. I believe we will have an interesting squad,” said Makuvire.

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