Nomads linked with Zimbabwean coaches
Mighty Wanderers FC are reportedly courting two seasoned Zimbabwean coaches, including their former mentor Rahman Gumbo.
The other coach being linked with the Nomads is Platinum FC mentor Norman Mapeza.
A source confided in The Nation that the Nomads’ newly-appointed technical director Eddingtone Ng’onamo is doubling as a coach because negotiations with the two coaches are ongoing.
Said the source: “They [Wanderers] already held talks with Gumbo, but the negotiations were put on hold as he is contracted to Botswana top league side Sua Flamingoes until next year.
“The other one is Mapeza. They have also reached out to him, but there has been nothing concrete this far.”
However, Nomads board secretary Humphrey Mvula said the matter should be treated as a rumour.
He said: “We recently announced our new technical panel and should there be any developments, we will communicate through proper channels.
“For now, our concentration is on preparing for the new season.”
Ironically, Gumbo who inspired the Nomads to the 2006 TNM Super League tile, has also been linked with Botswana national team while Mapeza is reportedly on the books of another Zimbabwean top-flight league side Ngezi Platinum FC.
The two are former Zimbabwe national team coaches and Mapeza was in charge of the Warriors at the recent Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals where they were in the same group with the Flames, but failed to make it past the group stage.
Should the Nomads hire any of the two, they will become the fourth team in the top-flight league to have a foreign coach, three of them Zimbabweans and a Zambian.
Their arch-rivals Nyasa Big Bullets have Callisto Pasuwa (Zimbabwe), Silver Strikers are coached by Dan Kabwe (Zambia) while Karonga United recently hired Lazarus Magaya (Zimbabwe).
The Nomads named Ng’onamo as head coach, replacing Bob Mpinganjira, whom Mvula said did not return to the club for duties after the Afcon tournament.
Joseph Kamwendo was appointed first assistant coach while Bob’s young brother, Albert, was demoted to second assistant coach from first assistant coach.
The Nomads former goalkeeper Simplex Nthala is the third assistant coach and physical trainer while Sam Mwale is the new team doctor.
