Chidzambwa makes Warriors return

By John Mhunga
BBC Sport, Harare

The Zimbabwe national side missed out on the last round of qualifying for 2010

Zimbabwe's Sunday Chidzambwa is set to return to take over from the Brazilian Valinhos as coach of the national side.

Chidzambwa, who used to be known as Sunday Marimo, is currently the technical director of Harare giants Dynamos, who reached the semi-finals of the African Champions League this year.

He had a brief period in charge of the Warriors last year.

Valinhos' contract with the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) expires on 31 December but the veteran coach fell out with the association after Zimbabwe's failure to advance to the final round of the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

The Brazilian, who was appointed Warriors coach in January, has not been paid his monthly salary of US$15,000 since May.

Zifa have agreed with Valinhos to pay him his outstanding salary but the Brazilian will not be in charge when Zimbabwe meet South Africa in an African Nations Championships qualifier on 30 November.

Valinhos has been in charge of the Warriors since January

The move is a return to a former role for Chidzambwa, who took Zimbabwe to their maiden Nations Cup in Tunisia in 2004.

He is also a former national team captain.

"Zifa like many institutions in the country are struggling to secure foreign currency to pay a foreign coach," a source close to Zifa told the BBC.

"They have indicated their plight to Valinhos who has understood their position and agreed to leave as soon as he is paid off.

"There is pressure on Zifa to atone for Zimbabwe's failure to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and they have agreed terms with Chidzambwa to bring him back to steer the national team once more."

Chidzambwa also coached Dynamos to the 1998 African Champions League final.

Zifa have called reporters and other interested groups to the unveiling of the new coach on Thursday.