Benjani Mwaruwari Speaks On His 18-Day Job As Warriors Assistant Coach
Former Warriors captain, Benjani Mwaruwari on Friday spoke to The Sunday Mail about his 18-day long job as Warriors assistant coach.
The former Portsmouth and Manchester City striker was appointed on August 25 and 18 days later, he was dismissed together with uninspiring head coach Zdravko Logarusic.
The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has since appointed Norman Mapeza as the caretaker coach. Mwariwari said he has no hard feelings. He said:
(I have) no qualms whatsoever. In any case, what happened was normal in any normal football situation.
Norman (Mapeza) had to be given the prerogative to choose his own assistants. He is a local coach who knows the terrain very well, having also coached the squad before, so it was only fair to let him hunt with his trusted dogs.
Mapeza knows the players as well, so he has to fight the battle with his trusted soldiers and he has to be given that opportunity.
It is normal in coaching for a head coach to have his own trusted lieutenants.
In any case, I am fully behind Mapeza. We all have to support him because this is all about Zimbabwe, not individuals.
When he was appointed into the national team set-up, Mwaruwari indicated that he wanted to use the term to learn as he had just attained a UEFA coaching badge.
That apprenticeship was, however, cut short, albeit in a rather embarrassing fashion.
But the former Manchester City striker who is now unattached maintains that Zimbabweans must rally behind Mapeza.
Before his Warriors appointment, he did some apprenticeship at his former club Portsmouth, who are now playing in English League One.
He remains open to another stint with the Warriors should it arise.
Mapeza came in with his own assistants — Mandla Mpofu of Highlanders and Triangle’s Taurai Mangwiro while former CAPS United and Zimbabwe goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro came in as the goalkeepers’ trainer.
He was given a three-month contract which runs out on December 31.
More: The Sunday Mail
