Zimpapers Logo

Bigboy Mawiwi

Tobias Mandoreba in Hwange
FORMER Harare City FC coach Bigboy Mawiwi was yesterday unveiled as the new Hwange FC head coach after the coalminers parted ways with Nation Dube and his assistant Mebelo Njekwa last week.

Mawiwi, who beat 11 other candidates after interviews held last week, was unveiled yesterday afternoon at the Hwange Colliery Company Estates boardroom at a ceremony attended by the team’s board of trustees, executive committee members and supporters’ leadership.

The soft spoken Mawiwi said he was not going to let down the passionate Hwange fans.

“I am over the moon to be given an opportunity to lead such a big football institution like Hwange. I am fully aware of the task ahead and I promise the fans that I won’t let them down and with unity of purpose, the team will not be relegated,” said Mawiwi.

“From the recent results, it shows the players are good and I will do my level best to make the team better. I am also happy to join a team pulling in one direction as I have witnessed since my arrival yesterday. I am man of few words, who does a lot of his talking on the pitch,” he said.

Marvin Maseko, the Hwange FC vice-president, didn’t mince his words regarding the precarious position the coalminers find themselves in on the Castle Lager Premiership table.

“We welcome you Bigboy to the coalminers set-up. The urgent need for results cannot be overemphasised, but let me promise you that we will all give you maximum support to achieve your goals,” said Maseko.

Hwange Supporters’ chairperson Maybin Dizomba was hopeful that Mawiwi can push the team out of the drop zone.

“I hope the new coach will deliver us from the relegation zone to a decent finish. The former coaches are loyal Hwange sons and I am saddened to see them go this way, but results will always safeguard coaches’ jobs and the survival of the team is of paramount importance,” said Dizomba.

Mawiwi has carved his own piece of history in local football, having taken three sides from Division One to the elite league. He won promotion with Circle Cement in 2000, Gunners FC (2007) and Harare City (2011), but will be the first to admit that he faces a huge task of preventing Chipangano from going down at the end of the season.

Hwange are in 15th position with 14 points on the 18-team league table. They have managed three wins, five draws and eight defeats.

Mawiwi will seek to quickly endear himself to the Hwange fans with a win when Hwange face relegation threatened Tsholotsho FC on Wednesday next week at the Colliery Stadium.

It was still not clear yesterday whether Mawiwi would bring in his own assistant or the club would appoint one for him.

Chenjerayi Dube, the goalkeepers’ coach, had been in charge of the team’s training since the departure of Dube and Njekwa.

@tobymandox