‘I want to build a competitive DeMbare’ Herbert Maruwa

Grace Chingoma

Senior Sports Reporter

NEWLY-APPOINTED Dynamos head coach Herbert “Jompano” Maruwa says he needs to improve the team and build up from the club’s third-place finish in the Castle Lager Premiership football this season.

Yesterday, the Glamour Boys announced that they have secured the services of Maruwa as their head coach for the upcoming season. 

He replaces Tonderai Ndiraya who parted ways with the club this month after his contract was not renewed. 

And Maruwa hit the ground running after his appointment, presiding over the club’s training session yesterday. 

DeMbare are training for the Unity Day Cup where they will play against Highlanders on December 22. 

The former Black Rhinos head coach says he would like to build on the solid foundation left by his predecessor Ndiraya, who finished third behind champions FC Platinum and Chicken Inn. 

“We need to make sure we improve the team. I thank and salute the previous coaches for working hard and finishing in third position (this season). We will have to see the material which is there and come up with a good team,” said Maruwa, who refused to disclose the length of his contract with Dynamos. 

Maruwa makes a return to Dynamos after seven years. He was part of Callisto Pasuwa’s backroom staff when the club went on a trailblazing run which ended when Dynamos last won their last title in 2014. 

In fact, under Pasuwa, Dynamos won the league for four years on the trot from 2011 to 2014. 

“I am happy to come back and lead the team, having spent seven years away. I will make sure people will enjoy football again and come back to the stadium,” Maruwa said. 

A likeable character, Maruwa has a perfect chance to assess what is at his disposal as he prepares for the Unity Day Cup. 

Although the club has already indicated that they will support their new man with the right tools for the job, they are not expecting their new gaffer to have a complete overhaul of the team. 

“This opportunity will help me to come up with the squad for the Unity Day Cup and assess the players at the club and make the necessary additions,” said Maruwa. 

The new DeMbare coach has also been given the liberty to pick his trusted lieutenants that will form the technical team at the Harare giants. 

Former Dynamos midfielder Murape Murape is likely to return to his childhood club as one of Maruwa’s assistant coaches. 

Murape is currently touring Spain with the Real Betis Zimbabwe Academy where he is the head coach. 

“I have already identified them (the assistant coaches) and they are still negotiating with the club,” Maruwa said. 

Dynamos spokesperson, Tinashe Farawo, said in a statement yesterday that the club would like to wish Maruwa success in his new placement. 

“The club has with immediate effect appointed Mr. Herbert Maruwa as head coach of the senior team. His assistants will be announced in due course,” said Farawo. 

In addition, Farawo said that they will support the coach with the right tools for the job, which includes the playing personnel. 

Farawo said they will appoint the assistant coaches that would be recommended by the new head coach. 

But The Herald understands that Murape Murape and former Yadah Stars head coach, Genesis Mangombe, will come in as Maruwa’s assistant coaches while ex-Black Rhinos goal-minder, Britto Gwere, will join the Glamour Boys’ technical staff as the goalkeepers’ coach. 

Former Dynamos head coach, Lloyd “Mablanyo’’ Chigowe, is set to return to the club as the head of development while Vincent Chabwana will be the fitness trainer.

Desmond Mhene will also come in as the analyst accompanied by Richard Chihoro who retains his post as the team manager.

Maruwa is expected to make some additions to the team that featured in the Castle Lager Premiership championship race this season but unfortunately finished the season trophy-less. 

Maruwa spent the last few months of the 2022 season at Harare City where he was assisting the demoted side’s former head coach Taurayi Mangwiro, who has since left the country to coach in Botswana. 

Maruwa recently terminated his four-year marriage with army side Black Rhinos. 

He joined Rhinos in 2018 after returning home from Swaziland where he had made his name with that country’s big clubs such as Black Mamba and Mbabane Highlanders. 

Before that, Maruwa worked under the wings of Pasuwa at DeMbare and he left in 2015 to hone his skills with ZIFA Eastern Region Division One side Hartley, before crossing the border to Swaziland. 

He is a holder of a CAF A Licence he obtained in 2014 when he was still the Dynamos’ juniors coach. 

Dynamos are looking to revitalise their side after finishing third in the championship race. The Harare giants somehow lost their way in the just-ended campaign despite having started well. 

At some point, the Glamour Boys led FC Platinum by 11 points but they finished a distant 17 points below the Zvishavane-based platinum miners, who raked up 75 points on the road to their fourth consecutive league title.

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