Naharnet

Football: Zimbabwe Coach Gumbo resigns

Zimbabwe's national coach Rahman Gumbo has resigned after failing to lead his side to the Africa Cup of Nations tournament in neighboring South Africa next year, a local daily reported Saturday.

"Gumbo resigned from his post just hours after a ZIFA (Zimbabwe Football Association) board meeting," the privately-owned NewsDay said citing sources at the football association.

Gumbo, a former national team player, was appointed coach in March this year following the suspension of Norman Mapeza for his involvement in a match-fixing scam involving the national team playing unsanctioned games in eastern Asia.

The resignation came after the football association's technical committee recommended the appointment of a foreign coach after analyzing Gumbo's report on why the national team failed to qualify for the continental football showcase early next year.

Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the African Cup of Nations after losing 0-2 to Angola in the qualifying stage. The team won 3-1 in the first leg in Harare but lost on aggregate because of the away goals rule.

NewsDay, citing unnamed sources at ZIFA, said the association was negotiating with a German coach to take over from Gumbo.

Source: Agence France Presse


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