Bongani Mafu

His appointment as the Highlanders coach however ranks as his most high-profile appointment as a coach. Mafu was also given a coaching post in Botswana when he was put in charge of Gaborone United.

During his tenure in the United Kingdom, he was also in charge of Under 18s with Sherborne Town playing in the Dorset Youth league, Won the U16 Championship with an unbeaten season and the 2012–2013 League Championship with the U18s.^[1]

The new Highlanders coach has also had attachments with St Denis in the Reunion and AC Milan in Italy.^[2] Apart from his coaching activities, Mafu is also said to be involved in the sponsoring of junior tournaments and football development programmes.

It was also reported that Mafu was also at one point in charge of Gilliangham Seniors^[3] In the year 2013, he made a donation of soccer balls to the Bulawayo Province Junior Football League.^[4]

Hwange Football Club

Mafu was appointed Hwange Football Club coach in January 2021, taking over from Nation Dube who failed to save the club from relegation from the Premier Soccer League the previous season (2019 as football was later suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic).^[5]

He left the club in March 2022 to work as an assistant coach to Benjani Mwaruwari at Ngezi Platinum Stars.

When Mafu left Chipangano, the club had opened up a two-point lead at the top of the ZIFA Southern Region Division One League and was on a ten-game unbeaten run.

Highlanders Football Club

Mafu is said to have been long involved with Bosso especially with the junior side before landing the top post.

After the sacking of Kevin Kaindu, the responsibility was passed on to Mark Mathe on a provisional basis pending the conclusion of the 2014 soccer season hence the hiring of Bongani Mafu^[6] Prior to his appointment as Highlanders Coach he was based in the United Kingdom^[7]

Ngezi Platinum Stars Football Club

In March 2022, Mafu was appointed Ngezi Platinum Stars' first assistant coach. He was appointed alongside Benjani Mwaruwari (head coach), Takesure Chiragwi (second assistant), John Vera (performance analyst), and Tinashe Nengomasha (team manager). ^[8]

However, following a spate of poor results, the club sacked the majority of the members of the technical team including Mafu in July 2022.

In May 2022, Ngezi Platinum Stars announced the appointment of Yvonne Mapika Manwa as the club’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Manwa’s appointment comes a month after Madamburo (Ngezi) parted ways with Nyasha Kadenge who was previously in the CEO position. According to reports, Kadenge who had been CEO for close to six years was fired after a disciplinary hearing. However, reasons for the hearing together with its outcome remained undisclosed.

Ngezi Platinum also appointed Benjani Mwaruwari as their new head coach in March, along with Bongani Mafu as his assistant coach. This was after the departure of Rodwell Dhlakama who was first placed on suspension in February over allegations of corruption before resigning. Also, Ngezi also took on ex-Warriors captain Tinashe “Father” Nengomasha as the club’s manager. ^[9]

Hwange Football Club

Mafu was appointed as the Hwange Football Club head coach in December 2022 following their promotion to the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League ahead of the 2023 campaign.^[10]

He took over from Try Ncube who won the ZIFA Southern Region Division One championship.

Ncube was appointed Mafu's assistant because he did not have the mandatory CAF A licence for top-flight coaches.

National Team

On 21 September 2023, Mafu was appointed as the first assistant to Warriors coach Baltemar José de Oliveira Brito by the ZIFA Normalisation Committee until June 2024.^[11]

His first match in the role was an invitational match against the Zebras to celebrate Botswana’s Independence Day on 30 September 2023.

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Teaching Experience

Mafu was also reported to have been a French teacher while in the United Kingdom

Coaching Qualifications

• UEFA B licence
• Coaching diploma from the Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association^[3]

Trivia

He is brother to former Warriors midfielder Ronald ‘Gidiza’ Sibanda. In addition to soccer Mafu is also a rugby and cricket coach!

References