ZIFA appoint Manica Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera as Warriors interim boss

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Normalisation Committee (NC) has appointed Manica Diamonds head coach Jairos Tapera as the Warriors interim coach for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa next month.

Tapera will be assisted by Green Fuel coach Saul Chaminuka as the first assistant and the Ngezi Platinum Stars coach as the second assistant.

Veteran coach Sunday ‘Mhofu’ Chidzambwa has been appointed as the Technical Director.

This was confirmed by the ZIFA NC through a statement issued on Friday written by chairman Lincoln Mutasa.

Read the statement: “Following the purposeful and expansive process conducted by the ZIFA Normalisation Committee to appoint a substantive Head Coach for our senior men’s national team, my committee and I are pleased to announce that the process has reached its finalization.

“However, due to ongoing discussions with the selected candidate, we are unable to make the necessary announcement at this stage.

‘Given that our World Cup qualifiers versus Lesotho and South Africa are imminent, the delay in the conclusion of this appointment has necessitated the appointment of an interim coaching team that will take charge of our two FIFA World Cup Qualifiers as well as the COSAFA Senior Men’s Tournament that starts immediately after these qualifiers.

“This will assist the ZIFA Normalisation Committee to conclude the substantive appointment of the Head Coach of the senior Men’s national team meticulously, thoroughly, and successfully.

“Therefore, the ZIFA Normalisation Committee is pleased to announce the appointment, on an interim basis, of: Jairos Tapera – Head Coach, Takesure Chiragwi-Assistant Coach, Saul Chaminuka-Assistant Coach (and) Sunday Chidzambwa-Technical Advisor.

The newly appointed technical team “will also lead the (Warriors) into the COSAFA Men’s Tournament immediately” after the qualifiers.

ZIFA also added that: “We have full confidence they will ably lead the team. It is our hope that the nation will rally behind the team and unite to achieve the success we all so dearly desire.”

Zimbabwe will play Lesotho on 7 June and thereafter they will tussle against Nigeria four days after.