ZIFA wields axe on Mhlauri

ZIFA wields axe on Mhlauri

FIRED: Mlhauri

• Mhlauri a mistake, says Chidzambwa

• Warriors fall in Morocco, Mhlauri faces axe

• Mhlauri's fury over Ndlovu no-show

By Nkanyiso Moyo

ZIMBABWE'S Football Association (ZIFA) fired national soccer team coach Charles Mhlauri on Tuesday after the national team failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana next year and a new coach will be appointed for the AFCON qualifier against Malawi in September.

ZIFA seems to have gone against the wishes of Vice President and patron Joseph Msika who said last week that Mhlauri was not to blame for the Warriors loss.

The decision, reached at a board meeting in Harare, which also saw all technical teams being dissolved, was chaired by ZIFA boss Wellington Nyatanga.

Mhlauri was assisted by Methembe Ndlovu while Ernest Sibanda was the manager and Sharif Mussa his assistant.

Rodwell Dhlakama coached the Under 17 and Under 20, while Misheck Chidzambwa was in charge of the Under 23 team. The Under 23 team failed to qualify for the All Africa Games and the Olympic Games. Rosemary Mugadza was in charge of the women's team, known as the Mighty Warriors.

A ZIFA statement said: “The ZIFA Board resolved to restructure all national technical teams.

“During, the restructuring exercise, ZIFA will consider the effectiveness of all other organs that contribute to the success of our national teams.

“In the interim, we have an AFCON qualifier in September against Malawi for which a caretaker technical team will be put in place to manage the fixture.”

The Warriors lost 2-0 away to Morocco at the beginning of the month and they managed just one goal in three matches. They lost 1-0 to Malawi and then drew 1-1 with Morocco at home.

Mhlauri, a winner of two league championships with CAPS United in 2004 and 2005 was thrust into the hot seat in 2005 as a replacement for Rahman Gumbo, who had been relived of his duties after the Warriors had lost 3-0
to Nigeria.

Gumbo had already picked up five points for the Egypt 2006 campaign and Mhlauri finished off the race, although Zimbabwe only won one match in the finals, not enough to take them beyond the group stages.

There was no immediate reaction from Mhlauri last night.

African Cup of Nations 2008
Group 12
[The team that wins the group goes through to the finals in Ghana in 2008]

RESULTS THAT ELIMINATED ZIMBABWE:
Date: 02/09/2006
Morocco 2-0 Malawi
Date: 07/10/2006
Malawi 1-0 Zimbabwe
Date: 25/03/2007
Zimbabwe 1-1 Morocco
Date: 02/06/2007
Morocco 2-0 Zimbabwe

REMAINING FIXTURES:
Date: 15/16/17-06/2007
Malawi/Morocco
Date:07/08/09-09/2007
Zimbabwe/Malawi

Group 12 Table:

TEAM	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	P
Morocco	3	2	1	0	5	1	7
Malawi	2	1	0	1	1	2	3
Zimbabwe	3	0	1	2	1	4	1

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