Norman Mapeza

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Norman Mapeza
Norman mapeza.jpg
BornNorman Takanyariwa Mapeza
(1972-04-12) April 12, 1972 (age 51)
Honde Valley
NationalityZimbabwean
OccupationFootball Coach
EmployerFC Platinum
Known forBeing the Captain of the Zimbabwe National Team (Warriors)
Spouse(s)Blandina Mapeza
ChildrenNjabulo and Sasha
Parent(s)
  • Michael Mapeza (father)

Norman Mapeza is one of the most celebrated Zimbabwean footballers to have played for the Warriors. He is the head coach of FC Platinum which plays in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League where he won two league titles with the platinum miners. He also had a fruitful stint with Turkish giants Galatasaray as a player.

In September 2021, Mapeza was appointed Warriors interim coach and his contract was extended to cover the Afcon 2021 finals. He failed to proceed past the group stages with Zimbabwe coming third in group B.

Background

Norman Mapeza was born on April 12, 1972 in Honde Valley.[1] Mapeza only came to Harare at the age of five. He grew up with a stepmother following the death of his biological mother back in 1986.[2]

Father's Death

His father Michael Mapeza died in a private Harare hospital on 7 January 2020 aged 81.

Mapeza confirmed his father's death. He said his father was taken to hospital on 4 January 2021 complaining of all symptoms of Covid-19. On 6 January 2021 he was reported to have improved and feeling better and was even asking for some fruits. Mapeza said the family thought he was recovering only for his nephew to telephone him with the news of his father's demise.

His father's death came hours after Mapeza’s team had lost 3-0 to Tanzanian side, Simba FC, in a CAF Champions League match which many said was influenced by match officials.[3]

Playing career

Norman Mapeza started his football career at Darryn Textiles Football Club under the watchful eye of respected Polish coach Wieslaw Grabowski before he moved to Poland. He moved to Europe to play with Sokół Pniewy in the Polish Ekstraklasa for the 1993–94 season. He is one of the very few Zimbabwean footballers that played mainstream soccer in Europe and played regularly for Galatasaray. He later on played for several Turkish clubs including Ankaragücü, Altay S.K. and Malatyaspor. He became the second Zimbabwean player to have played in the UEFA Champions League after Liverpool legend Bruce Grobbelaar.[4] Mapeza is said to have played about five Champions league matches for Turkish giants Galatasaray all 90 minutes as a defensive midfielder against other European heavyweights such as FC Barcelona and Manchester United rubbing shoulders with players such as Romario, Pep Guardiola, Ronald Koeman, Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane, Paul Ince, Ryan Giggs and Mark Hughes.[4]

Coaching Career

Mapeza started his professional career as assistant coach to Charles Mhlauri at CAPS United Football Club in 2004 but his stay was not long. He later decided to take up full time coaching as the head with the now defunct Monomotapa Football Club in 2008 where he won the league title after pipping Dynamos Football Club to the title. He then left at the end of the season and concentrated on something else for some time before taking the Warriors post later. He also coached FC Platinum with which he won two titles before leaving the club in September 2019 to join South African PSL team Chippa United in October 2019. His stay at Chippa did not last as he left the club early March 2020 and his departure surprised a lot because he had turned around Chippa's fortunes.[5]

Former Zimbabwean national team coach Norman Mapeza was expected to be announced and unveiled as the new head coach of Tshakuma Tsha Madzivhandila FC (TTM) in September 2020. Mapeza was approached after the club bought the franchise of Bidvest Wits and decided not to negotiate with coach Gavin Hunt who joined Kaizer Chiefs.[6] He trained the team in Limpopo despite the club finances being the hindrance in his unveiling.[7]

On 20 November 2020, FC Platinum announced that they had re-engaged with Norman Mapeza after mutually parting ways with Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh. His immediate task was to take the team to the CAF Champions League preliminary round against Costa do Sol of Mozambique.

League Titles

Mapeza won his first of four Premier Soccer League titles in 2008 with Monomopata Football.

Thereafter, he won the title with FC Platinum three times, including during the 2022 season with four games to spare.[8]

Warriors

In August and September 2007, Mapeza also took charge of Zimbabwe's senior men's national football team on an interim basis.[9][10][11]

In the beginning of May 2010, Mapeza was appointed caretaker manager of Zimbabwe once again.[12] He resigned in November 2010.[13]

In March 2011, Mapeza was again appointed Zimbabwe manager for a third spell in four years.[14] In February 2012, he was suspended from his job as Zimbabwe's national football team manager for alleged match-fixing.[15]

On the 15th of September 2021, Mapeza was appointed caretaker manager of the Zimbabwe national football team.[16] He left the interim post after the Afcon 2021 finals in January 2022.[17]

Clubs Played For

Accolades

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Match Fixing Allegations

Mapeza was also accused of having taken part in a series of fixed matches together with players such as Knowledge Musona, Ovidy Karuru including the then ZIFA Boss, Henrietta Rushwaya.[1] At the time the allegations against Mapeza were made, he was still the head coach of the national team but was eventually suspended before being dismissed. Following his dismissal from the warriors job, Mapeza sued ZIFA for damages for unfair labour practices. In 2012, Arbitrator, Caleb Mucheche, ruled that the indefinite suspension of Mapeza on allegations of match-fixing was illegal and directed ZIFA and Mapeza to agree on the quantification of the outstanding payments.

After the parties failed to agree, Mapeza took the case back to Mucheche for quantification. On 6 March 2013, Mucheche ordered Zifa to pay Mapeza the net sum of US$243 546,52 as damages with interest thereon at the rate of 5 percent per annum with effect from October 25, 2012, to the date of full payment.[18]

Trvia

Mapeza is neighbours with Zimbabwean tennis legend, Byron Black




References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Norman Mapeza, ZimLegends, Published: No Date Given, Retrieved: February 16, 2015
  2. Mapeza sings Ebenezer, The Sunday Mail, Published: November 18, 2018, Retrieved: April 12, 2022
  3. Norman Mapeza’s Father Succumbs To COVID-19, Pindula News, Published: January 7, 2021, Retrieved: January 7, 2021
  4. 4.0 4.1 Enock Muchinjo Which Zimbos have played in the Uefa Champions League?, Daily News, Published: May 7, 2014, Retrieved: February 16, 2015
  5. [1], New Zimbabwe, Published: 25 March, 2020, Accessed: 12 October, 2020
  6. [2], Chronicle, Published: 29 September, 2020, Accessed: 12 October, 2020
  7. Nkululeko Dladla, [3], KickOff, Published: 8 October 2020, Accessed: 12 October 2020
  8. Breaking: FC Platinum confirmed Castle Lager Premiership champions for the fourth successive season, Virjo Mufaro, Published: 22 October, 2022, Retrieved: 25 October, 2022
  9. Fans Urge Zimbabwe Football Association To Name Ex-Player Team Coach, voazimbabwe.com, 10 September 2007
  10. Mapeza’s young Warriors, The Zimbabwean, 6 September 2007
  11. Zimbabwe name two caretaker coaches, namibian.com.na, 10 August 2007
  12. ZIFA extend Mapeza rein as caretaker coach, nehandaradio.com, 28 July 2010
  13. Norman Mapeza Quits As Caretaker Coach, radiovop.com, 8 November 2010
  14. Mapeza appointed Zimbabwe coach, english.ahram.org.eg, 7 March 2011
  15. Mapeza technically axed, Bulawayo24, Published: 9 February 2012, Retrieved: April 11, 2022
  16. Mapeza agrees to three-month Warriors deal, The Herald, Published: September 16, 2021, Retrieved: April 11, 2022
  17. Mapeza leaves national team, Soccer24, Published: January 24, 2022, Retrieved: April 11, 2022
  18. Daniel Nemukuyu Mapeza awarded US$ 243 000, The Herald, Published: March 8, 2013, Retrieved: February 16, 2015

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