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ZC hunting for national team coach from Sunday News

Senior Sports Reporter

ZIMBABWE Cricket have began hunting for a new national coach to replace incumbent Walter Chawaguta whose contract expires at the end of this month.



Former Zimbabwe national team batsman Grant Flower who is at English county side Essex is heavily tipped to land the post.
Even though ZC head of media Shingai Ruhwaya and managing director Ozias Bvute could not be reached for comment yesterday, sources within ZC have confirmed that the job has been advertised internally.
Chawaguta himself confirmed that his marriage with ZC ends at the end of this month and that he was told that the job would be advertised two months ago. He was also advised that he could apply for it.
“I signed a one year contract which expires at the end of this month. I was told that the job would be advertised two months ago but I have not applied,” said Chawaguta who added that he was planning ahead as national team coach.
It is not the first time that the job has been advertised as it happened at the end of last year before Chawaguta was let to continue.
Sources said ZC were already in talks with some potential candidates with former Zimbabwe national team batsman Flower whose brother Andrew is the coach of England being the front-runner for the post.
ZC have since 2005 opted for local talent with Kevin Curran, Robin Brown and Chawaguta all given a chance but without success. The last foreign coach Zimbabwe had was Phil Simmons from West Indies who was fired in 2005.
He had replaced Australian Geoffrey Marsh who opted not to renew his contract in 2004.
Chawaguta has not enjoyed lots of success with the national team having only won 12 matches out of 32 matches with those victories coming against minnows Bangladesh and Kenya.
He has failed to achieve victory against big guns Sri Lanka and South Africa.
Should Chawaguta’s contract not be renewed, the new coach is expected to prepare the national team for the tour to West Indies as well the International Cricket Council World Twenty20 Championships set for the Caribbean in May.
Next year would be a crucial year for Zimbabwe, as all the matches they play will serve as preparation for the ICC 2011 World Cup to be sub-hosted by India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Any suggestion guys, should we stick to Zim coaches, i go with
Duncan Flecther

I think cambell can become a good coach.

Strange. We'd been led to believe it was done & dusted and that Heath Streak was getting the post - now the Sunday News are pegging Grant Flower for the role. Fits with the rumours of Flower coming back 'in a coaching role', I guess, and would make any Zimbabwe v England fixtures fun.

Still think Alastair Campbell would be the best for the job, though...

hmmm im not sure if this is possible as Grant Flower signed a new one year contract with Essex and the end of the just completed English season to play one day cricket and continue as second team captain/coach. It will be intresting to know wether there is a get out clause in this contract.

As for his quality he has had far more coaching experiance than alister campbell as he has been essex second team coach for a season in which he has produced good results and has worked well with young players such as Tom Westly and Adam Weater. If its at all possible i think that a combination of Grant Flower and Heath Streak would mean that Zimbabwe cricket was in very safe hands.

What a luxurious situation Zimbabwe Cricket find themselves in. We now have, Dave Houghton, Andy Waller, Heath Streak, Alistair Campbell, John Rennie, Dirk Vjolien and now the possible return of Grant Flower
However, i agree with Zimfan1. He's got a contract with Essex wich continues for another year, and it'll be hard for him to get out of that. Duncan Fletcher is now assistant Coach of the South African Cricket Team, a position i doupt he's going to leave Zimbabwe for. I agree with Maehara, i think Alistair Campbell would be the right man for the job as his knowledge on the Zimbabwe game is incredible, however one may argue that Heath Streak is just as knowledgable and posses the required qualities to fill the coaching role efficiently. So it's a touh call to make, all be it a pleasent one from Zimbabwe Crickets perpective.

My choice:

Gobby (GF) > Streaky > Kaba (AC)

No no cambell is no. 1 candidate.

jamthala wrote:No no cambell is no. 1 candidate.

Thing is, I don't think he is a candidate. I would be surprised if he put his name forward for the job - he's never shown much interest in coaching at the national level, and seems happy where he is. Frustrating, as I think he'd be very good in the role.

I agree 100%