ZIFA were poised to unveil Tom Saintfiet as the new Zimbabwe national team coach on Tuesday, ending Norman Mapeza’s brief spell in charge.
The Belgian arrived in Harare on Monday from Namibia where he is coach of their national team.
His appointment appeared in doubt over the weekend when ZIFA boss Cuthbert Dube vetoed the association’s technical committee -- comprising board members Benedict Moyo, Solomon Mugavazi, Twine Phiri, Gift Banda and Kenny Marange -- which recommended Saintfiet.
But the ZIFA board which met on Monday evening appeared determined to push through the unpopular appointment.
Black Mambas coach Madinda Ndlovu, Dynamos and national Under 23 team coach Elvis Chiweshe, Friday Phiri, Richard Tswatswa (goalkeeper’s trainer) and Sharif Mussa (team manager) are set to be named as Saintfiet’s assistants.
Saintfiet said he had not yet resigned from his job in Namibia, but hoped to conclude talks on the Zimbabwe job on Tuesday: “I am here for the job, I want the job that’s why am here.
“I have not resigned from my job in Namibia, but that should be sorted out in a day or two.”
A ZIFA statement issued over the weekend said: "The serious search for the substantive senior national team’s head coach started on July 24 with an advert being flighted on July 27, 2010.
"Responses in the form of applications were received from 13 applicants by the close of business on August 15, 2010.
"Two other applications were received on September 8, 2010, and September 11, 2010, being the last day of interviews.
"The board took exactly 53 days to come up with the right candidate for the national coach. It was not easy to find one, as a lot of considerations had to be taken.
"Amongst the key factors looked at by the board were the technical astuteness, tactical acumen, planning abilities, the right coaching qualifications, previous achievements, maturity, knowledge and scope of influence to the outside world beyond our borders and knowledge and opinion of Zimbabwean football by the candidates.
"We looked for somebody who could lead us to the Africa Cup of Nations 2012 and World Cup 2014. We looked for somebody who could also assist our local coaches to be future world class coaches.
"We looked for the best candidate for the job, one who we could trust with our most valuable asset for the coming four years and possibly beyond.
"The candidate is Tom Saintfiet from Belgium, he meets the above mentioned attributes and qualifications and has very strong connections around the globe.”