HARARE - Monomotapa have elevated interim coach Biggie Zuze to the post of substantive coach after the former Dynamos player guided the 2008 champions to a top-four finish in the just-ended 2012 season.

Zuze, who took over from the sacked Taurai Mangwiro in mid-season, guided the club to fourth place in the Castle Premiership. The highlight of Monoz’s season, perhaps, was becoming the first and eventually the only team to beat trailblazing Highlanders, who had gone for 23 games without defeat.

Bosso’s juggernaut was ruthlessly stopped by Monomotapa in a 3-0 destruction at Rufaro Stadium back in September. Under Zuze, Monomotapa also had a wonderful cup run that saw the club reach the final of the Mbada Diamonds Cup.

The 2008 Zimbabwe champions however lost 0-2 to Dynamos in the final last month.  

Monoz’s top officials had an end-of-season retreat in Vumba where they met to discuss the club’s future and plans for the 2013 season. At the retreat, the Monoz bosses sought amongst other things to pick up the pieces from the pain of withdrawing from the African Confederation Cup owing to lack of funds.

“We had a strategic planning meeting in Vumba this past weekend which included the club’s executive committee and technical committee,” Monoz chairperson Joseph Mukoki said.

“We have decided to appoint Biggie (Zuze) as the full time coach whilst George Jojo, who was acting as assistant coach, reverts to the development portfolio. We have tasked Biggie to recommend his own assistant coach. Obviously the assistant coach would have to be someone who conforms to the Monoz culture.”

The club bosses also discussed how to retain most of the players that did duty for them in the just ended season.

Some of their star players like Tawanda Nyamandwe, Kuda Musharu, Russell Madamombe, Ronald Chitiyo and Artwell Mukandi have attracted the interest of local and regional clubs. - Sports Writer