Gorowa’s future uncertain

IAN GOROWAASikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS coach Ian Gorowa’s future with the national team is uncertain following what sources described as irreparable differences with the Zifa high performance committee led by John Phiri.
Sources close to the development told Chronicle Sport yesterday that the committee has since recommended to the Zifa board that the South Africa-based former Black Rhinos and Dynamos player be fired due to what they said was gross insubordination and reckless disregard of authority.

The fallout is over Gorowa’s failure to submit reports on the performance of the Warriors despite being given time to do so.

“The committee did not take kindly to that and immediately resolved to have him (Gorowa) relieved. If they had the powers, they would have fired him themselves but that prerogative is with Gorowa’s employers,” said the source.

Phiri’s committee met in Harare on Sunday expecting reports on the doomed Africa Nations Cup campaign as well as the Chan qualifiers where the Warriors did extremely well to finish in the semi-finals only to lose on penalties to Libya.

Gorowa has submitted just two reports on two matches, the international friendly against Tanzania which ended in a goalless draw last year and the 2-2 draw against the same opponents in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign in Harare last month which all but ended Zimbabwe’s interest in the race for a ticket to the continental soccer showcase in Morocco.

Gorowa has been refusing to hand over the reports to the committee arguing he does not report to the committee but to Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze.

Phiri could neither confirm nor deny that his committee wants Gorowa fired for among other things insubordination.

“Yes we met as the Zifa high performance committee and we agreed that let us close the Gorowa chapter because we can’t continue working with someone who simply was not adhering to instructions.

He failed to submit reports and so we recommended to the board that our business with Gorowa was now a closed chapter,” said Phiri.
Pressed to state their position on whether they want Gorowa fired or not, the former Warriors kingpin said:

“Look, if you request for reports which you want to use to assess the performance of the coach but those reports don’t come, what option are you left with?

“We have made our recommendations and the final decision lies with the Zifa board.”

Phiri said following their recommendation he then approached acting Zifa president Omega Sibanda and informed him of their decision.

“The acting president said since other board members, including the president, Cuthbert Dube were in Brazil, there was little that can be done as we can not make a decision in the absence of other board members,” said Phiri who is also a Zifa board member.

Gorowa recently took a dig at a member of the high performance committee and spokesperson, Gibson Homela, telling the veteran former Warriors coach and living football legend to concentrate on reviving fallen giants, Zimbabwe Saints.

 

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