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Chawaguta To Lead Zim On Bangladesh, Kenya Tour PDF Print E-mail
Saturday, 20 December 2008 21:06

CARETAKER-coach Walter Chawaguta will lead Zimbabwe on their tour of Bangladesh and Kenya next month, amid revelations the affable former under-19 mentor will fight it out with Takashinga icon Stephen Mangongo for domestic cricket’s hot seat.


Chawaguta, 36, was named interim national team coach after Zimbabwean cricket officials decided against renewing Robin Brown’s contract when it ran out in June this year. But ZC have since invited applications for a substantive instructor.


Sources, though, told Standardsport yesterday Chawaguta and current Zimbabwe A coach Mangongo were the two short-listed candidates for the top post, with the winner set to be unveiled on the team’s return from their two-legged tour in early February.


The Zimbabwe coaching job had sparked intense debate among cricket followers, with some of the country’s former cricketers — and even foreign nationals — being linked to the post.


But Chawaguta will get another chance to prove himself on this tour, with a lacklustre show certainly going to force the hand of the Cricket Committee which has been tasked with recommending the right man for the job.


Meanwhile, selectors have named a 15-man squad for next month’s tour to Bangladesh and Kenya. The Bangladesh leg of the series will include a warm-up match against an Academy side (January 6-8), one-day tri-nation series that will also include Sri Lanka, and three one-day-internationals on January 19, 21 and 23.


The Zimbabweans will then head for Kenya on December 23, arriving in Nairobi the following day for five ODIs against the unpredictable Associate outfit.


In announcing the squad yesterday Zimbabwe team manager Givemore Makoni also confirmed Chawaguta would be leading the team, with former paceman Douglas Hondo assisting him. Makoni also confirmed Prosper Utseya, 22, remains captain of the side, despite mounting criticism of his leadership skills.


“Prosper’s captaincy has never been on any agenda and he remains captain of the team,” Makoni said. “In addition to the Bangladesh tour, the team will also head for Kenya for five ODIs before returning home.”
The selectors have rung the changes for the tour, with all-rounder Chamu Chibhabha, 22, paying the price for a lethargic show against visiting Sri Lanka early this month, alongside youngsters Timmycen Maruma, Shingirai Masakadza and Regis Chakabva.

Malcolm Waller, a specialist batsman, and wicketkeeper Forster Mutizwa are the new faces in a squad that has become largely predictable in recent months.


Zimbabwe are expected to do well against a Bangladesh side which is on a rebuilding exercise after being rocked by the sudden resignation of nine regulars early this year, who have opted to join the lucrative but outlawed Indian Cricket League. The Zimbabwe team is also under pressure to be more than competitive against a Kenya side that seems to have lost all respect for Zimbabwe, if recent results are anything to go by.


Zimbabwe squad:
Prosper Utseya (capt), Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Ray Price, Sean Williams, Stuart Matsikenyeri, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Tawanda Mupariwa, Keith Dabengwa, Ed Rainsford, Graeme Cremer, Chris Mpofu, Forster Mutizwa, Malcolm Waller.

think the article has the data wrong and that we will be heading for Kenya on January the 23rd straight after the last game against Bangladesh

we will see if the series agsint kenya happens as our board has recently not wanted to play them

but if it does take place it means that we have 10 ODI's lined up which will give our players valuable experience along with encouraging players such as Williams and price to stick around

So,after the tri-series,3 match ODI series vs Ban and 5 match ODI series vs Ken the result of national team coach will be announced and Walter Chawaguta retains this job till Feb '09.

But Chawaguta didnt show any promise in terms of converting the good chances into victory.But the main race is between Chawaguta and Mangongo!!!!!

I think,Kevin Curran is the best man for the job professionally and but I will go with Colin Siller as Kevin Curran had no success in his coaching perioad of Zimbabwean national side adding his rough behaviour with the players.Collin Siller has a good experience under his belt.

Current Zimbabwe A coach Stephen Mangongo is very inexperience with only having the experience of being the coach of the U-19 team.

Anyway,best wishes to the Zimbabwean team for the upcoming matches.If there is 10 ODIs in a row,Zimbabwe will be much benifited from it.Ya,it will really help guys like Williams,Taibu,Price to stick around and show some good performance.With a little experience but a promising player Malcolm Waller has also got a great chance to show his class in the international cricket.

I hope waller or mutitzwa get a game. I think that matsikenyeri will play the first few ODI's against bangladesh and if he scores 20 odd runs he will be retained for years to come

Good to see the ODIs finally arranged. Although I'll be happier when I see a fixture list.

As for the coach job - after naming an essentially unbiased squad, ZC have to go and ruin things by discounting the two experienced applicants in favour of the two Takashinga-ites. Laughable. The annoying thing is that if Chawaguta doesn't come back from Bangaldesh and Kenya with a winning record, then we'll end up with Mangongo as coach - and at that point we may as well give up...

maehara wrote:Good to see the ODIs finally arranged. Although I'll be happier when I see a fixture list.

As for the coach job - after naming an essentially unbiased squad, ZC have to go and ruin things by discounting the two experienced applicants in favour of the two Takashinga-ites. Laughable. The annoying thing is that if Chawaguta doesn't come back from Bangaldesh and Kenya with a winning record, then we'll end up with Mangongo as coach - and at that point we may as well give up...

The mention of the name Mangongo boils me up with anger, that dude should stay far away from cricket as possible . Chawaguta isn't a good idea either, i think he made a full of us in Canada. Best idea is to consult the ICC or one of Asian bloc boards for assistance, i am sure we will come up with a decent coaching department.

Zimbabwe's Bangladesh and Kenya tour will be a big test for Walter Chawaguta in order to see that how he can handle the team.He failed to turn good chances into win in the ODI series against Sri Lanka.Its a good chance for him to bounce back.But if he fails,as we heard early ZC will give this job to Stephen Mangongo.I amnt so convinced abt Mangongo,he hasnt even appeared in the first class level and only has the experience of coaching in the U-19 team of Zimbabwe.Having a good experience under his belt,Colin Siller is overlooked by ZC.I think,Siller could hv been a good contender for this job.If Chwaguta fails,I do feel so that ZC should contact ICC for assisting them in this prospect.