Matawu on Warriors

Fungai Muderere

NEWLY appointed Warriors team manager Clemence Matawu says he is looking forward to serving the senior national team to the best of his ability for the benefit of this football-loving nation.

The former Warriors, Motor Action and Chicken Inn midfield maestro, was appointed Warriors interim team manager late last week by the Lincoln Mutasa chaired ZIFA Normalisation Committee. Matawu, who is the Gamecocks’ administrator, is a holder a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Sport Science and Coaching from the National University of Science at Technology (Nust).

He took over the Warriors job from Wellington Mpandare days before the country’s flagship side went to face Botswana in an international invitational friendly match that was played in Gaborone last Saturday. In addition to Matawu’s appointment, the Normalisation Committee hired

Highlanders Portuguese gaffer Baltemar Brito and his assistant at Bosso Antonio Torres who also doubles as his translator, who was tasked to operate as the fitness and conditioning coach.

Also in the Warriors interim technical team is Bongani Mafu and Simba Bhora’s Zivanai Kawadza who took over from Energy Murambadoro as Warriors goalkeepers’ coach.

Opening up on his appointment as Warriors interim team manager Matawu (40) said:” I am not in this position to reinvent the wheel, but rather to service it in the way I believe will be best for the nation.”

Fondly know as Naughty Flee or Killer during his playing days, the pint-sized former Warrior said the new Warriors set up gets him nervy.

“The new set up needs a lot of planning and great organisation. So far so good, it has been a bit nervy here and there. However, I have enjoyed the pressure of trying to understand the system. I’m looking forward to a fruitful journey ahead. I haven’t reached the sky yet so I will keep dreaming,” said the soft-spoken Matawu.

While he reckons that he was still aiming for greater achievements in the football circles, before he hung his boots in 2021, Matawu had proved to be one of the most consistent Soccer Stars of the Year in the country.

He scooped his first Soccer Stars of the Year gong in 2006 beating ex Highlanders midfield genius Honour Gombami to it.

By then Matawu was still playing for the now defunct Motor Action. He would later venture into Europe where he had some fine outings in

Poland’s top flight league before returning and continuing his brilliant dances in soccer stars competition a development that saw him grace the calendar on a number of occasions.