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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.