SA club seek to poach Zimbabwe national coach

By Edward Marange

South African Premier Soccer League side Free State Stars are reported to be trying to lure Zimbabwe national team coach Sunday Chidzambwa. This is on the back of speculation the veteran coach is dissatisfied with the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) over the non-payment of his salaries and bonuses amounting to US$50 000.

The man who guided Dynamos to a historic African Champions League final in 1998, the national teams maiden appearance at the African Nations Cup finals in 2004 and the COSAFA Senior Challenge Cup last year has still not been paid salaries and bonuses due from last year.

It’s reported he has traveled back and forth between the different government departments including the Ministry of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture and the Ministry of Finance trying to get his money but to no avail. So on Wednesday Chidzambwa flew to South African with his agent Gibson Mahachi to meet Free State Stars officials.

Contacted for comment ZIFA chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya could only say;

“Sunday hasn’t told me anything yet and we have been working together to try and get the funding to ensure that he is paid for his services. But he is a good coach and there will always be a number of teams that are interested in his services and we are always aware of that. I hope to get a better picture of what is happening when I talk to the coach himself.”

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