FORMER Zimbabwe captain Benjani Mwaruwari is set to join the Warriors technical bench as an assistant coach following the Zifa board resolutions made public on Wednesday afternoon.
A few months after getting his UEFA A Licence, the ex-Manchester City striker will Kickstart his coaching career as an understudy to Croatian, Zdravko Logarušić.
Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) Executive Committee that met on Tuesday and deliberated on various issues affecting football and the general state of football in the country resolved that the Mwaruwari be roped in to bolster the technical team.
Mwaruwari, who attained his coaching badges last month in Belfast, Ireland, will be part of the Warriors technical team for the World Cup Qualifier match at home against South Africa next week.
The appointment of the former English Premier League striker comes at a time the fans have been calling for the axing of Warriors head coach Logarusic whose record makes poor reading. However, the ZIFA leadership have stuck with him.
In a statement issued after the meeting on behalf of ZIFA by Xolisani Gwesela, the Communications and Competitions Manager, the appointment of Mwaruwari is with immediate effect.
“The Executive Committee received a progress report from the Technical and Development Committee regarding all matches played in 2021. Exco resolved that the technical teams will remain unchanged. The Exco further resolved to augment the Warriors’ technical team by appointing Benjani Mwaruwari as an Assistant Coach. The appointment is with immediate effect,” said Gwesela.
The 42-year-old former Jomo Cosmos player has shown interest in running for the ZIFA presidency and still harbours the same ambition but wants to cut his teeth first in administration and coaching as he prepares himself for the biggest job in Zimbabwe football.
The current Warriors technical team led by Logarusic already has Tonderai Ndiraya and Lloyd Chitembwe as his two assistants.
With the confusion that has ensued before with the technical team failing to work smoothly, it will be interesting to see how they will work together with the addition of Mwaruwari.
Sources have told EnterSportNews that Logarusic was not consulted before Mwaruwari was appointed, leaving many to speculate that the former Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers, and Portsmouth player is being earmarked for the top job.
