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It has also emerged that the Cuthbert Dube-led Zifa Board are keen to re-engage Mhlauri as the new Warriors coach after the former CAPS United mentor officially submitted his application documents for the post.

In his application papers obtained by The Herald from sources within Zifa yesterday, Mhlauri suggested that the local soccer controlling body draw up a contract which, among other things, would see him getting an advance on his salary.

Mhlauri wants to safeguard himself against cases whe-re coaches have taken Zifa to court or Fifa as was in the case of Brazilian Valinhos and local coach Sunday Chidza-mbwa who were owed money in unpaid salaries by the association in the past.

Mhlauri himself is owed US$15 700 by Zifa after the coach used his personal funds to pay for the senior natio-nal team players’ allowances and airport departure fees during his last stint as the Warriors coach in 2007.

In his recent correspondence with Zifa, Mhlauri indicated that he was prepared to have another dance with the Warriors and would only do so on condition that the association draws up a contract, which will also see him getting a handsome package.
Mhlauri — who left his coaching post as the Warriors head coach in June 2007 — said he holds the new Zifa president Dube in high esteem and was willing to work with his Board.

He also indicated that he was prepared to commit himself to a “three-and-half years” contract as the Warriors coach, a period in which he would receive a total sum of about US$336 000.
But Mhlauri quickly suggested that Zifa have to organi-se to make part payment “for the duration of the contract as this will make it easy for me” to coach the Warriors.

“If the contract is for, say, three-and-half years, which translates to, say, 42 months at the rate of US$8 000 x 42 = $336 000.

“Why not pay US$200 000 (in advance) then pay me on a monthly basis the remainder (US$136 000) divided by 42 = US$3 238, 09 per month.

“I find this model safe for me in the sense that at least it erases my past fears,” wrote Mhlauri in his application papers to Zifa for the Warriors coaching post.
He added that taking the Warriors coaching post will also see him and his family relocating from the United States to Zimbabwe and this “comes with certain sacrifices that I have to safeguard from the onset”.
Mhlauri indicated that the previous board led by Wellington Nyatanga, had approached him, but he had turned them down because he felt “their powers had been usurped by their CEO.”

The Zifa Board have, meanwhile, made contact with Mhlauri, acknowledging receipt of his correspondence and they indicated that they were keen to re-engage him as the Warriors coach.

In a letter sent to Mhlauri by the Zifa president Dube and dated December 6, 2010, the association said they were keen to engage his services.

“I acknowledge with thanks receipt of your application letter and curriculum vitae of 2 December 2010 and advise that your name has been short-listed for the above post.

“Your proposal on how you would ideally wish your remuneration package to be paid has been noted and the same is being studied by the Zimbabwe Football Association who have just emerged from a very untidy investigation involving, chief among them, issues of financial mismanagement and lack of corporate governance.

“As such, the Association is somewhat financially constrained notwithstanding the fact that Fifa is very sympathetic to our ‘clean-up’ staff restructuring exercise and may come to our rescue following their three-day visit to Zimbabwe.

“As the new look Zifa Board, we are keen to engage your services as a matter of urgency once we agree on our Contract of Employment whose draft will be availed to you soon,” read part of Dube’s letter to Mhlauri.

This latest development comes after Zifa failed to secure the services of Tom Saintfiet as the Warriors coach after the Department of Immigration denied the Belgian a work permit.
Zifa then turned their attention to engaging a local coach for the hot seat and they shortlisted three coaches — Mhlauri, his fellow former Zimbabwe coach Rahman Gumbo and Benjamin Moyo.
Moyo used to coach the now-defunct Premiership side Amazulu.

And when contacted yesterday, Gumbo, who is attending the Caf C Licence coaching course in Harare, was not forthcoming.
He said nobody has approached him from Zifa about taking over as the Warriors head coach.
And while speculation has been rife on who will land the top post, reports coming from 53 Livingstone Avenue corridors appear to suggest that Mhlauri is Zifa’s preferred choice.

Zifa would like to have a new Warriors coach in place in time for the CHAN finals in Sudan early next year.