ZIFA have blocked Moses “Bambo” Chunga from securing a job
with Premiership side TelOne saying he doesn’t possess a CAF A licence.
They also claim he doesn’t qualify for an exemption, which
is given to coaches who do not have the badge, even though he is a former
league championship winner. Chunga, too, has coaching qualifications from
Holland.
While ZIFA technical director, Wilson Mutekede, made the
ruling, it’s ironic that Dutch coach Erol Akbay, who doesn’t have a CAF A
licence, was given the green-light to take charge of Ngezi Platinum Stars.
Englishman Mark Harrison, who also didn’t have a CAF A
licence, was allowed to coach Harare City for more than a year.
Shockingly, the ZIFA decision to bar Chunga, a former
Warriors captain, comes just a few days after they handed the national team
head coach job to Joey Antipas.
The Chicken Inn coach also doesn’t have a CAF A licence. Yesterday, TelOne club president, Lloyd Mtetwa, confirmed
they had short-listed Chunga for the job.
“He was among the candidates we were considering for the
head coach post. We had not given him the job but, as part of our due diligence
and screening process, we checked with ZIFA, particularly issues around the
club licensing,’’ said Mtetwa.
“And, it is during that process that we learnt that he has
no CAF A or an exemption from ZIFA.’’
Both ZIFA spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela and Mutekede said
Chunga never applied for exemption.
“He should apply for exemption and we haven’t received any
letter from Chunga,” said Gwesela.
Mutekede said Antipas and Chidzambwa were exempted by a
Technical Committee which was in charge before he assumed office.
“What happens in terms of exemption is that you write a
letter to the Technical Development Committee, which is headed by Brighton
Malandule.
“A committee sat way back before I joined ZIFA, and
resolved to have these exemptions of Antipas and Mhofu.
“So, every coach writes a letter for exemption citing his
qualifications and reasons for exemption,” said Mutekede.
Yesterday, Chunga whose last league stint was at the end of
2016 season with Harare City, refused to comment on the matter.
However, it is the manner in which ZIFA operate, applying
selective rules to certain individuals, which exposes the association which
should cater for all the stakeholders.
ZIFA have received a lot of stick regarding their
enforcement of the CAF A licence in the top-flight this season.
That the association cannot even support a former Warriors
captain and, instead, and prepared to provide a waiver for the likes of Akbay,
shows ZIFA do not value the input of those who played the game. Herald
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