Grabowski returns as Zimbabwe coach

Wieslaw Grabowski is back as Zimbabwe's coach

By BBC Sport Online's Steve Vickers in Harare

The Zimbabwe football association (Zifa) have named Polish-born Wieslaw Grabowski as the manager of the national team.

Grabowski, who has been living in Zimbabwe for many years and handled the team in the past, will be assisted by Nelson Matongorere.

Zifa's choice is unlikely to inspire confidence among supporters of the national team.

Many fans were hoping that former coaches Reinhard Fabisch and Bruce Grobbelaar would return to the job.

Grobbelaar was Zifa's initial choice but attempts to lure him back failed, as they were unable to met Grobbelaar's financial demands. .

Nelson Matongorere is Grabowski's assistant

Grabowski is a controversial character, who has fallen out with Zifa on numerous occassions.

He was assistant coach of Poland's national team at the World Cup finals in 1978 and was in charge of the Zimbabwean under-23 team that won the silver medal at the 1995 All-Africa Games.

Player problems

Earlier this year, he was Zimbabwe's caretaker coach for a three-nation tour of the Middle East.

During the tour, a row erupted between Grabowski and some players, who complained about the payment of their allowances.

Goalkeeper, Gift Muzadzi, was banned from the national team for statements he made to the press on the issue.

Nelson Matongorere, Grabowski's new assistant, was coach of the under-20 side that won the Cosafa tournament last December.

The coaching duo will be given contracts up to the 2004 African Nations Cup finals.

Zimbabwe, yet to make an appearance at Africa's most prestigious football tournament, are drawn in the same group as Mali, who finished fourth at this year's tournament.

Until Grabowski's appointment, Zimbabwe had been without a national coach since last September.