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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
JUST four days after controversial director of rugby Liam Middleton quit his post, the Zimbabwe Rugby Union have begun the hunt for his replacement. Middleton left his job last Friday after he emerged as the successful candidate to take over as Canada Sevens coach. Applicants have only four days in which to apply and replace Middleton as the deadline has been set for this Friday.

Middleton had been in charge of the ZRU technical affairs for the last 11 months, joining the union last October after a jobless spell having been fired from his last post in England.
However, the ZRU have moved on and are looking for a quick replacement of the former Cheetahs coach with the candidates expected to have, at least, an International Rugby Board Level III coaching certificate.

The former Sables coaching duo of Brighton Chivandire and Godwin “Jaws” Murambiwa, who hold IRB Level III coaching certificates, qualify to apply for the big job.
According to a communiqué from the ZRU, the successful candidate will be responsible for setting out a clear strategy for the development of Zimbabwe rugby’s high performance programme over the next five years.

Other responsibilities and roles include management of technical resources of all national teams, playing structures, managing the performance and appointment of technical staff, overseeing the performance analysis of representative teams and also managing education programmes.

During his term, Middleton overstepped the line and wrestled away the Cheetahs’ coaching post from Gilbert “Gidza” Nyamutsamba and demoted the Sables coaching staff of Brendan Dawson and his assistant Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge, causing divisions in the ZRU.

He was also caught in the race storm that hit the ZRU early this year.