Mapeza has no regrets about leaving Chippa
Mapeza left the Chilli Boys at the beginning of March while the team was doing well under him.
Norman Mapeza (Photo by Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images)
Former Chippa United coach Norman Mapeza has no regrets about the timing of his decision to leave Chippa United.
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Mapeza shocked the SA football world when he left the Chilli Boys at the beginning of March while the team was doing well under him and were genuine contenders for a top-eight finish.
It is still unclear what led to the former Warriors captain and coach’s decision, although there were rumours that he was not seeing eye-to-eye with some of the club’s senior players.
There were also rumours that he was fired by the trigger-happy Chippa boss Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi, but Mapeza’s agent Gibson Mahachi dismissed these rumours.
“Mapeza and Mpengesi were in the good books, and they remain so,” Mahachi told Zimbabwe’s Herald.
“Like we have said in the past, Mapeza’s decision to quit his post, as the Chippa United gaffer, was a well-informed one and professional. The two (Mapeza and Mpengesi) are still very close.
“We appreciate the fact that Mapeza had a chance to work for Chippa United and the work he did there is tremendous.”
Mahachi added that Mapeza did not regret his decision to leave Chippa.
“The decision by Mapeza to quit his role at Chippa United was well calculated and thought out,” Mahachi told The Herald yesterday.
“There is nothing to regret.
“If anything, Mapeza is very appreciative of what Chippa United did to his career. He has gained a lot in terms of experience.”
Mapeza has since been replaced by former Orlando Pirates assistant coach Rulani Mokwena, who was in charge of the team for one match before the league was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mokwena led the Chilli Boys to a goalless draw against Bidvest Wits on 7 March.
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