ZIFA extend Mapeza rein as caretaker coach

By Edward Marange (Chief Sports Reporter)

Former Zimbabwe national team captain and now Warriors caretaker coach Norman Mapeza has had his stay in the hot seat extended by the Zimbabwe Football Association.

‘Nomara’ will now take charge of the Warriors’ opening African Cup of Nations Group 1 qualifying showdown with Liberia as Zimbabwe fight for a place at the 2012 Nations Cup with a tough away fixture on the weekend of September 3-5.

Although ZIFA officially invited applications for the job on Tuesday it appears Mapeza is the early front runner because the national body has made it clear they are looking for a local coach as they do not have the resources to hire a foreign coach.

Mapeza was asked to lead the Warriors on a caretaker basis when Sunday Chidzambwa resigned at the start of May to join South African Premiership side Free State Stars. He was owed thousands of dollars in unpaid wages and has since decided to drag ZIFA to court for US$67 000 in unpaid dues.

Upcoming Warriors Fixtures:

03-05/09/10: Cape Verde v Mali 03-05/09/10: Liberia v Zimbabwe

08-10/10/10: Mali v Liberia 08-10/10/10: Zimbabwe v Cape Verde

25-27/03/11: Cape Verde v Liberia 25-27/03/11: Mali v Zimbabwe

03-06/06/11: Liberia v Cape Verde 03-06/06/11: Zimbabwe v Mali

02-04/09/11: Mali v Cape Verde 02-04/09/11: Zimbabwe v Liberia

07-09/10/11: Liberia v Mali 07-09/10/11: Cape Verde v Zimbabwe

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