By Courage Dutiro
In a shocking move that has sent ripples through the football community in the country, a Masvingo-based ZIFA Eastern Region Soccer League (ERSL) Division One team, FC Wangu Mazodze has sparked controversy after appointing an 8-year-old as assistant team manager.
On September 27, 2024, the team appointed club owner’s son Richardell Mazodze to the position of assistant team manager, a development which has been described by some football professionals and soccer fans as a joke and utter madness in the football world.
FC Wangu Mazodze president Clive Gohodzi (Sibbs), said he had more appointments like that to come and said he had appointed him as the new assistant manager so that he could be groomed by the current team manager.
“We focus on our junior policy as much as we do on our players. Similarly, I appointed Richardell Mazodze to learn from our current team manager, and I believe his parents will feel motivated to groom him in the same footsteps.
“I am the appointing authority of FC Wangu Mazodze, and the vision is to brand our club differently from other clubs. I have more appointments to come and this will give us a chance to market our club as we strive for promotion to the premiership,” said Gohodzi.
The role of an assistant team manager involves a wide range of responsibilities, including coordinating team schedules, building relationships with players, and assisting with scouting and recruitment.
Masvingo United team manager Fidelis Nyahwai said it was unreasonable to think that someone of that age could execute the duties of an assistant team manager.
“That one is a joke, to be an assistant team manager, one must have certain qualifications so that in the absence of coaches he or she can do some of the duties.
“The only reason this is happening is because the child’s father owns the team. Even though he has the power to make such decisions, it’s obvious that someone of such age cannot handle the responsibilities of an assistant team manager,” said Nyahwai.
The ERSL Division One rules and regulations as amended in 2O24 states that no technical member shall be allowed to sit on the technical bench without the following requisite qualifications.
“The rules and regulations stipulate that the head coach must hold a CAF (B) coaching certificate, the assistant coach must hold a CAF (C) coaching certificate, the goalkeeper’s coach must hold a Level 2 or Goalkeepers’ certificate, the team manager must hold a Football Administration certificate or at least a Level 1 coaching certificate, and the team medic must hold a Sports Medicine or Red Cross Certificate,” reads part of the ERSL Division One rules and regulations.
Moses Muravu, a football fan, said people should not overlook the fact that this young boy is still developing mentally, it is inappropriate for him to lead a team at such a young age and does not have the necessary qualifications to be an assistant manager in Division One.
“We cannot overlook the boy’s psychological development. It is inappropriate for him to lead the team at such a young age.
“Moreover, he does not meet any requirements for one to be an assistant manager of a team in Division One. They are just putting the beautiful game of football into disrepute all in the name of being owners, that is unacceptable,” said Maravu.
ERSL administrator, Fungai Munyoro-Chingaira said they evaluate the technical staff of the teams based on their qualifications.
“We accredit technical members of teams based on qualifications, we do not have his credentials in our books yet,” said Chingaira.
Despite the criticism, club owner and father to Richardell, Dr. Richard Wangu Mazodze said he has no doubt about his son’s abilities due to the team’s size.
“It came to me as a surprise when president Sibbs appointed him to the position but I don’t doubt his capacity. He has been involved in the running of family businesses from a young age, and I believe he is capable of managing the team’s affairs due to its small size,” said Mazodze.
He also made it that his United States of America (USA) based son, whose age he prefers not to disclose, has been financially supporting the team from his pocket since the start of the season.
“He has been funding the team from his pocket since the beginning of this season and leadership is not geographical,” he said.
As if that is not enough, the team also on October 2, 2024 appointed another one of his sons, Richard Wangu Mazodze Junior as the team’s Chief Legal Officer.
Richard Junior is said to be a second year law student at one of the Ivy League Universities in the United States where he also plays college football.
