Coach of the Year: Mutasa or Mapeza?

By Eddie Chikamhi

The 2017 Coach of the Year award is likely to be a tough battle between the championship winner Norman Mapeza of FC Platinum and Dynamos’ Lloyd Mutasa. A panel of experts is expected to convene in Harare this morning to choose the Coach of the Year and 11 of the best players.

Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association chairman Bhekimpilo Nyoni said the selectors should consider a wide-range of factors in coming up with the deserving winner. In choosing the coach, I think, the most important factor is who is the champion? At the same time you have to note that it’s not only about who wins the title.

“That is why Pasuwa won the award once between 2011 and 2014 even though he lifted four consecutive league titles with Dynamos during that period. What I am simply saying is if it was automatic that the coach who wins the title becomes the Coach of the Year then there was no reason to vote.

“The fact that the award is voted for means we should look at a whole range of variables. Regardless of the points at the end of the race, what has the coach’s influence done with the team in terms of their overall performance and type of play? Was it a case of just grinding results in a boring game or the team was playing beautifully structured football accompanied by good results?

“Based on that, I would be persuaded to say Norman Mapeza deserves this. If you remember well, by the time the season got half way, FC Platinum seemed to be struggling and Mapeza turned things around by the signings that he made when he brought those experienced guys.’’

Nyoni also felt Ngezi Platinum Stars coach Tonderai Ndiraya should be in the hat especially after transforming his modest side to championship contenders and winning three Coach of the Month awards along the way.

DeMbare started with a bunch of unknown players and many had predicted they would be fighting relegation at the end of the season. However, Mutasa should be credited for transforming the side under very difficult conditions.

“A number of players also shone brightly during the season and include the likes of Rodwell Chinyengetere, Kelvin Moyo and Wallace Magalane who won their maiden title with FC Platinum.

Other names that have featured prominently include Dynamos skipper Ocean Mushure and Christian Epoupa Ntouba, Devon Chafa (CAPS United), Tichaona Mabvura (Ngezi Platinum), Clemence Matawu, Nhamo Lameck (Triangle), Qadr Amini (Ngezi), Innocent Muchaneka (Chicken Inn), Bukhosi Sibanda (formerly Bantu Rovers), Moses Jackson (Chicken Inn), Simon Munawa (Highlanders), Bruce Homora (Black Rhinos), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Ngezi Platinum) and Dominic Chungwa (CAPS United). The Herald