Harare, February 08, 2012 - The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has appointed Rahman Gumbo as the new coach of the Warriors to replace the suspended Norman Mapeza.

This follows a Zifa board meeting Tuesday in which former Dynamos coach David Mandigora was also asked to come on board to take over the position of assistant coach which fell vacant following the suspension of Joey Antipas.

Zifa Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Mashingaidze announced the decision to suspend members of the technical team implicated in the AsiaGate scandal following the suspension of all the players alleged to have received payments to throw away matches following the Warriors numerous trips to Asia.

Gumbo’s appointment does not come as a surprise as he enjoys a very good relationship with Zifa vice president Ndumiso Gumede who has assumed the role of kingmaker at the football federation.

This is the second time too that Gumbo will be holding the Warriors fort having taken over control of the team when Sunday Chidzambwa resigned soon after the Warriors’ return from the 2004 finals in Tunisia.

The appointments are with immediate effect and Gumbo’s first assignment is the 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier in which Zimbabwe will play Burundi, the first leg of which is in Bujumbura on February 29.

Richard Tswatswa retained his position as goalkeepers’ coach while former Dynamos team manager Nyika Chifamba takes his first national team assignment as team manager.

Peter Ndlovu also announced his arrival as coach of a national side when he was appointed the new Zimbabwe Under 23 coach and will have Dynamos’ Calisto Pasuwa as his assistant in a set up that will see Peter Nkomo coming in as goalkeeper’s coach and former Warriors team manager Chris Chitinde bouncing back, but this time, in the juniors team.

The Zifa board did not want to leave things to chance and have appointed the Under 20 technical team which sees Jairos Tapera taking charge of the team with George Madira his assistant. Labani Kandi will be the goalkeepers’ coach with George Chinhava the team manager.

The Warriors are desperate for a return to the African Cup of Nations after missing out of the 2008, 2010 and 2012 editions.

Local coaches Sunday Chidzambwa and Charles Mhlauri took the Warriors to the 2004 and 2006 African Cup of Nations finals respectively.