Mugadza sacking blamed on  poor performance Rosemary Mugadza
Rosemary Mugadza

Rosemary Mugadza

Sports Reporter
ZIFA have insisted that the sacking of Mighty Warriors coach Rosemary Mugadza last week was not because of boardroom politics, but poor performance by the gaffer.

Mugadza was relieved of her duties together with assistant coach Mebelo Njekwa, goalkeepers’ coach Ndega Matsika and kit manager Fungai Nyamutukwa in a move that has been shrouded in controversy.

There are allegations that Mugadza and some of her technical members were fired for considering players from clubs affiliated to the league under suspended Zimbabwe Women Football chairperson, Miriam Sibanda, into the national team.

Team manager Charity Munemo and Johannes Chikaola, who was assistant coach under Mugadza, are the only two members from the Mugadza-led technical team who survived the axe last week.

Speaking to The Herald yesterday, ZIFA chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze insisted the developments at the Mighty Warriors were part of their review programme for all national teams.

“First and foremost, the High Performance Committee met last week and reviewed all technical structures, not only the Mighty Warriors but even the men’s,” said Mashingaidze.

“You find there has been some re-alignment in the structures. “With the Mighty Warriors we also had input, which input was technical in terms of making sure we have teams that can stand the heat technically and tactically.

“The High Performance Committee is technically better placed than the board in terms of changes.

“The issue is to do with communication with the High Performance Committee, whatever position would take place after the High Performance Committee make some recommendations. We felt we needed to review our technical structures.

“The senior men have one person now taking charge, Callisto Pasuwa. Pasuwa is now in charge of one team.

“Nation Dube is now taking charge of the Under-23 and Jairos Tapera is with the Under-20. The under-age coaches then get drafted into the next level, like the Under-20 coach is assistant to the Under-23 and the Under-23 coach is assistant to the senior men.

“So those changes were basically to do with the current review programme.”

Mugadza was replaced by Shadreck Mlauzi from Inline Academy.

He will be assisted by former Mighty Warriors player and Tsholotsho FC assistant coach, Sithethelelwe Sibanda and Chikaola, who retained his position as assistant coach.

Peter Masibero is the new goalkeeper’s coach while former captain Onai Chingawo is the new kit manager.

Former Highlanders coach, Barry Daka comes in as the technical advisor.

Mashingaidze said they are now waiting for feedback from the ZIFA technical director, Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, who was assigned to communicate with the new technical team concerning their appointments.

“They have been advised to get in touch with the technical director to discuss the duties at hand and housekeeping issues.

“So those letters were passed to (their) clubs today (yesterday). We believe those coaches who were called up have the best credentials,” said Mashingaidze.

The ZIFA chief executive said the women’s league was run by the women’s football board and, if there are any issues, they will be dealt with within that domain.

“On that one I would like to categorically distance the board from that kind of insinuation.

“We are not aware of any other league except the league running under the auspices of acting chairperson, Elizabeth Langa.

“If there is a parallel league we don’t know about that and those issues lie under the chairperson Langa.

“Like ZIFA don’t run PSL, we don’t deal with those issues. They fall under the domain of women football,” said Mashingaidze.

The Mighty Warriors newly-appointed technical team’s immediate task is the Olympic Games qualifiers last round tie against Cameroon early next month.

The first leg is scheduled for October 3 at Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo, Yaounde and the return leg will be played on the weekend of October 16 to 18 at Rufaro.

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