Norman Mapeza appointed Warriors interim coach; Simon Marange appointed U20 head coach

ZIMSPHERE 

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has announced major changes in the coaching staff of the national teams. 

REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko/File Photo

Norman Mapeza, the current head coach of FC Platinum, a Zimbabwe Premier League side, has been appointed as the interim head coach of the men’s Zimbabwe national team. 

His appointment comes ahead of the four-nations tournament in Malawi, scheduled to take place in Lilongwe from March 18th to 26th. 

The tournament will feature teams from Malawi, Kenya, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Mapeza, a former national team captain, has had several stints as head coach of the men’s senior national team. He will be assisted by Takesure Chiragwi, the head coach of Ngezi Platinum Stars, another prominent team in the local Zim PSL league. 

In a separate development, Simon Marange has been appointed as the new Head Coach of the U20 men’s Zimbabwe national team. 

Marange currently serves as the reserve team coach for Orlando Pirates. He was promoted from the U21s of Orlando Pirates, whom he coached from 2020-2023. 

Marange has a successful track record, having won the Future Champions Trophy as the U17 coach of Orlando Pirates between 2018-2020. 

His team triumphed over Osasuna, Club Brugge, and Spartak Moscow on the way to the final in a tournament that boasts the likes of FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid as former winners.

ZIFA expressed confidence in Marange's ability to work with elite youth players in their professional development phase. 

He will be assisted by former Aces Academy head coach, Backlyfield Chivenga.