Mapeza disqualified

MONOMOTAPA mentor, Norman Mapeza, was chopped out of the coach of the year award nominees as the Sports Writers Association of Zimbabwe, gathered for the selection in Kwekwe, on November 15.

Despite taking over an average team to save it from relegation, last season, to inspire it into topping the table having outwitted champions, Dynamos, Highlanders and Caps United, Mapeza still was stripped off of the tag –coach of the year.

SWAZ Marketing director, Charles Mabika told reporters before they could hand over their nominees ‘Monomotapa was sanctioned for not playing the CBZ FA Cup semi-final and Mapeza precipitated the violence –we are condemning violence in the strongest terms.’

‘So for this reason Mapeza is out,’ Mabika added.

For a coach who has been outstanding with his leadership and coaching skills, Mapeza was with no doubt, the man for the title despite being a reserved character to the media, therefore failing to share his vast knowledge of the game with the people.

He has passionate love for football that drives him to be very vocal and critical of the referees, hardly sitting on the bench, during his matches.

A man who would certainly react to any kind of provocation such as the incident at Sakubva stadium, a fortnight ago.

That is the character of the former national team skipper –and starving him of a well deserved coach of the year award meant overlooking his achievement so far to focus on an incident any human would have reacted the same way.

There were mixed feelings among the panel of selectors in Kwekwe, last weekend, as some sports writers felt that ‘Mapeza had been treated unfairly’

Standardsport’s veteran sports editor, Lloyd Mutungamiri, told The Zimbabwean ‘that criteria is embarrassing on our part, my position is, whoever shall be awarded, should do the right thing and hand over the award to the person who deserves it; who in this case is Mapeza.’

‘I have known Mapeza since his days at Darryn-T and he will never point a finger at anyone,’ Mutungamiri added.

The decision left eyes focused on Dynamos head coach, David Mandigora and Njube Sundowns’ Philani Ncube.

Mandigora has been in charge of the Glamour Boys during their campaign in the MTN Caf Champions League, in which De-mbare emerged one of the top four teams on the continent.

He has a good record of discipline on and off the field.

But the shoes for the coach-of-the-year are simply big for Yogie.

Dynamos is one of the teams, if not the only team with talented players from the first eleven, right through their bench, a team that can afford resting stylish midfielder, Justice Majabvi, Edward Sadomba, goalkeeper Willard Manyatera –selected as 2008 CBZ PSL soccer stars of the year- and go on to win a match.

It is not to take away anything away from Yogie, but after the dubious substitutes during league matches, the surprising starting line-up against Al Ahly, at Rufaro stadium, he is one coach the nation can only admire for his character and determination but not trust as coach of the year.

Ncube of Sundowns has done a commendable job in leading his team into the top three teams on the table, with his charges remaining consistent in the league.

He is potentially a 2008 coach-of-the-year after Mapeza’s expulsion.