SUNDAY CHIDZAMBWA, the country’s most successful coach, has been handed the job of head coach at South African side, Black Leopards, on a substantive basis after a good run in his second spell at the club.
Chidzambwa, who was moved to technical director and replaced as head coach by Vladislav Heric in October last year, bounced back to take charge of the team last month after the Serbian quit.
The Zimbabwean coach successfully helped Black Leopards to secure their future in the Absa Premiership, with a stunning 3-1 win over Ajax Cape Town, on Saturday.
Leopards have also enjoyed a good run, in the Caf Confederation Cup, under Chidzambwa and eliminated Nigeria’s Warri Wolves to qualify for the last 16 where they will meet Sudanese giants El-Merreikh.
Yesterday, Chidzambwa was officially advised by club owner, David Thidiela, that he will be the head coach in the coming season.
“The challenge I was given by the club’s management when the coach left was just to help them complete the season and I think the team responded very well and we secured our future in the Premiership,” said Chidzambwa.
“When we completed our local season, the team’s owner came to me and said he wasn’t interested in looking for another head coach and asked if I could consider taking back the job of head coach full-time again.
“I said ‘yes’ and I have one more year on my contract with Leopards and this means I should be in the charge of the team until May next year.”
Chidzambwa referred The Herald to Thidiela, for more information, regarding the latest developments but repeated efforts to contract the businessman failed last night.
But Thidiela had given a hint, that Chidzambwa would be rewarded by being offered the head coach’s job, on Sunday in an interview with a South African newspaper, The New Age.
“I am meeting the technical team on Monday and issues surrounding the coach, his future and the players are to be discussed with the hope that we become a better team next season,” said Thidiela.
“I am happy that we retained our status and I am happy that the people of Limpopo still have a team that represents them in the PSL.
“But now that we have passed the first hurdle of ensuring that we survive, we need to start planning so that we find ourselves within the top eight bracket instead of fighting relegation again.”
