Zifa accept Gorowa’s resignation

ZIFA yesterday accepted Ian “Dibango’’ Gorowa’s resignation as Warriors coach, but the soccer mother body did not immediately outline their plans for a replacement amid revelations that they were looking at turning their attention to the national Under-23 side. 

This could mean that Dynamos coach and Gorowa’s assistant Callisto Pasuwa would preside over the national team’s assignments in the interim and his first task could be the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup if it eventually takes place at the end of the year.

Pasuwa was Gorowa’s trusted lieutenant in the Warriors dressing room and the Dynamos mentor had also been elevated to the Young Warriors post following the departure of Peter Ndlovu, but the Under-23 side is still to play a game since those appointments were made.

Yesterday, the Zifa board met at the Zifa Village to discuss a report compiled by the High Performance committee on the Warriors and the rest of the national teams.

Gorowa had, however, handed in his resignation on the eve of the board’s meeting with the coach indicating that he had resigned for personal reasons, but also made it clear that there had been no improvement in his frosty relationship with Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze.

It emerged that the Zifa board was still going to fire Gorowa based on the HPC’s recommendations, but there are also indications that the coach had still not signed the contract that the association had reportedly offered him.

The board, according to Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela last night, then discussed the resignation together with the HPC’s report before agreeing to accept the move.

“The board accepted the resignation by Ian Gorowa as it was also in line with the HPC’s recommendations that the national team coach be relieved of his duties. There shall be formal communication to the coach to that effect.”