Sports Writer
KAITANO TEMBO was the team’s second-in-command when he made his Africa Cup of Nations bow with the Warriors at the 2004 tournament in Tunisia.
It was the first time that Zimbabwe, then under the guidance of legendary coach Sunday “Mhofu’’ Chidzambwa, were playing at the Nations Cup finals, following several years of near misses.
Tembo was one of Chidzambwa’s most trusted troops on the pitch.
He was the vice to legendary captain Peter Ndlovu when Zimbabwe exited at the group stage but not before becoming the first team to score three goals against Cameroon, when losing 5-3 in that game and also beating Algeria 2-1 in their last game.
And two decades later, that very man, who was capped 34 times for his country is back into the Warriors set-up and back at the AFCON, carrying yet another understudy tag, being the assistant to German coach Michael Nees.
The former Dynamos and SuperSport United centre-back was unveiled during a press conference to announce the Warriors squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup Group C qualifying assignments.
He is a man Zimbabweans always wanted to take the Warriors coaching job especially after proving his worth at South African side SuperSport United.
And he is expected to add depth to the dug-out where he will co-assist Nees with Ngezi Platinum Stars gaffer Takesure Chiragwi.
The timing of Tembo’s appointment couldn’t be more ideal ahead of Zimbabwe’s penultimate 2026 World Cup Group C qualifier against South Africa at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban next week.
Granted, the Warriors, at the base of Group C after going win-less in eight games, will not be part of the expanded cast in the United States of America, Canada and Mexico next year, but they have an obligation to redeem some pride in their final phase of qualification against Bafana Bafana and Lesotho.
Those two final Group C matches will come within four days of each other with the Warriors being the away team to Lesotho at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane.
Without a CAF-approved match venue, the Warriors return to Durban, at the same venue where they ground a 2-2 draw against Benin in March. This time the Warriors will host Bafana Bafana in a high-profile Southern Africa derby that has some interesting sub-plots.
South Africa were this week dealt a blow by FIFA who docked them three points on a 3-0 scoreline for using an ineligible player against Lesotho early this year.
That Bafana Bafana are still in the running for the sole Group C ticket to the World Cup adds an interesting twist to the encounter, a fixture which die-hard Warriors fans hate losing to South Africa.
While trying to register wins in the upcoming two games and possibly move from bottom place, Zimbabwe will also be using these qualifiers to fine-tune for the AFCON which takes place in Morocco in December-January.
Given they will face South Africa at the continental show-piece once again along with Egypt and Angola, Tembo is considered to be the man who can craft a formula to constrict them given he knows the South Africans like the back of his hand.
Tembo, who revealed his excitement at being afforded a chance to return to the Warriors fold acknowledged his in-depth knowledge of the South African game.
“Yes, I know the South Africans well. I am glad to have been given this opportunity to work with the national team,’’ Tembo said.
“I am really proud to have been drafted in. Let me thank the ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi and his executive, head coach Michael Nees and my colleagues in the set-up including Takesure Chiragwi for giving me this opportunity.
“I have known Nees since 2003 when we played against Seychelles. We then met at a coaching course and we have known each other quite well since then.
“I am very comfortable working with him. I look forward to the challenge and I should say I am really excited to be here and to be given a role to try and contribute towards the success of our national team.”
Currently working with Sekhukhune United in South Africa, the man who was affectionately known as “Munhu Mutema” during his playing days will be expected to throw in the notes to help Zimbabwe stop South Africa next week.
His return to the Warriors also has some reunion for Tembo as he links up with the man who was part of the senior team’s management in 2004 — Sharif Mussa.
Mussa was the Warriors liaison officer during the 2004 Nations Cup before he rose through the ranks to become the team manager.
Mussa was yesterday confirmed as the national team’s general manager and will be working with manager Clemence Matawu.
Speaking about Tembo’s appointment, ZIFA president Magwizi said:
“We want to put our best foot forward in the remaining World Cup qualifiers and at the upcoming AFCON tournament.
“That is why we have also brought in Coach Kaitano Tembo to help us be what we all want to be.
“To our fans, we see your passion and we do not take it for granted. Success is a process and we feel the pain that you go through when the team is not winning,’’ Magwizi said
-ZW Papers
