Zimbabwe line-up Sono to replace Marimo

Zimbabwe line-up Sono to replace Marimo

JOMO SONO: Led South Africa to the World Cup

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By Tawanda Tafirenyika

SOUTH Africa's Nations Cup winning coach and businessman Jomo Sono has been in talks with Zimbabwe Football Association officials about talking over as Warriors coach.

Current coach Sunday Marimo has agreed a demotion to technical adviser if a coach is found, the Daily Mirror claimed yesterday.

It also emerged that Bruce Grobbelaar has been in talks about a second stint as Warriors coach.

ZIFA chairman Rafik Khan could, however, not disclose the candidates they were considering for the post saying the announcement on the eventual winner would be made shortly.

The Mirror, quoting a "highly placed" source within Zifa said Khan flew to South Africa two weeks ago for talks with Sono and "earmarked him especially" ahead of a field said to include another former South African coach Clive Barker.

“There is also another coach from Belgium with Euro Club Services who has also been targeted for the same post. We are still talking to him as well and, at the moment, noone knows who will eventually take up the post," the paper's source is quoted as saying.

“The good thing is that Marimo, who had said he does not want to work with a technical adviser, has had a change of heart and is now willing to work with a technical adviser.

“He did not want the idea but on return from Tunisia, he changed his mind. Probably he looked closely at the situation on the ground and saw the need to work with one,” said the source.

Zimbabwe was the only country at the African Cup of Nations without a technical adviser and many observers believe it was the main reason why Zimbabwe took an early plane home although they managed to dismiss Algeria 2-1 in their last match, which was hugely of academic interest.

Khan said: “It is true that we want to engage a technical adviser. We have opened negotiations and very soon we will be announcing the candidate. We want him to start as soon as possible and will let you know once everything is tied up. I am not at liberty to disclose the candidates and will only do that when everything is finalised.”
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