By Simba Jemwa
In the midst of heart-stopping back-to-back defeats to Ghana, rumours about Norman Mapeza’s possible stay on as the Warriors ‘guvnor and take the team to the Africa Cup of Nations finals next year are a rather topical issue at the moment. The difference is, this time, they feel final.
In Zimbabwe when the ‘king-makers’ make a play and begin to push for an appointment, the signs are clear as day. The Warrior’s performances are at an all-time low, the squad looks disjointed, and they are playing without purpose, with plenty of problems remaining unresolved.
New reports are surfacing every day, placing the Warriors in the rumour mill with a series of managers. Names like Benjani Mwaruwari, and Joey Antipas et al have all been mentioned, but one proven candidate lurks in the shadows, currently without a club. That is, Mapeza, the current caretaker coach.
In the following article, ezemidlalo.net will explore whether Zifa should pursue Mapeza, taking an in-depth look at his tactical approach, how that would fit in with the national team and its stars, and any potential shortcomings.
From player to manager
Before becoming a renowned club manager, Norman Mapeza had an successful playing career. He made over 300 appearances across a 15-year span, with several years of European football beginning with Polish side, with Sokół Pniewy before playing for several clubs in the Turkish Super Lig, including Galatasaray S.K., Ankaragücü, Altay S.K. and Malatyaspor.
He was only the second Zimbabwean player to play in the UEFA Champions League, appearing in the competition with Galatasaray in the 1990s. He also played for and captained the national team.
After retiring, Mapeza moved on to the managerial scene kick starting the next chapter of his football career as Charles Mhlauri’s player assistant at Caps United in the 2004, a role he also reprised at Ajax Cape Town in the 2005-06 season. He ended his playing career in the summer 2006 and in July 2007, Mapeza was appointed manager of Monomotapa with whom he won the first of his three league titles before he resigned in 2008.
On 11 August 2014, Mapeza was appointed manager of F.C. Platinum. And thus begun his dominance of local football as well as the first evidence of an archiles heel: the often difficult Caf Champions League or continental forays with club and country.
Mapeza’s first call from Zifa came in August of 2007 when he took charge of Zimbabwe’s national football team on interim basis. At the beginning of May 2010, Mapeza was appointed caretaker manager of Zimbabwe once again. He resigned in November 2010.
In March 2011, Mapeza was again appointed Zimbabwe manager for a third spell in four years but in February of 2012, he was suspended from his job as Zimbabwe’s national football team manager for alleged match-fixing.
And in March 2017 Mapeza was again appointed caretaker manager of Zimbabwe for the fourth time until November 2017. Mapeza left his position at FC Platinum on the 12th of September 2019 and was appointed the manager of South African PSL team Chippa United on the 1st of October 2019, a job he left Chippa in March 2020 before a return to FC Platinum in November 2020.
On the 15th of September 2021, Mapeza was appointed caretaker manager of the Zimbabwe’s national football team: for the fifth time! And a fifth time as a caretaker coach!
Tactical Overview
Mapeza’s style is demanding, intense, and incredibly effective. His teams are well-oiled machines, fluid yet solid at their best. He is particularly known for his man-management, as there are countless anecdotes and stories regarding his fiery energy and ability to motivate players. Conversely, it can sometimes rub players (and management) the wrong way, leaving behind broken.
His ability (or lack of it thereof) to work with other coaches has also been questioned over the years. Many a time, stories of dictatorial tendencies, arrogance and a lack of respect for his own technical teams have been whispered in the annals of local football.
Tactically, Mapeza has been a pioneer for the resurgence of the 3-5-2 formation in local football. The blueprint he established with his early Monomotapa sides and multiple league-winning FC Platinum have since been emulated by various managers.
Utilising the 3-5-2 (sometimes 3-4-3), Mapeza has played defensively, very attacking, and balanced, making him an overall pragmatic and flexible manager. In all, he prefers to play a high-tempo and direct brand of football, requiring squads full of pace and power. Still, his teams are not always high-pressing, as they often settle into a mid-block instead.
With his general tactics in mind, let’s take a look at how Mapeza’s teams play in more depth. In the build-up, centre-backs are key for advancing the ball up the pitch, whether through carries or long-balls. With the latter, they can look for on-going runners or target men like Rodwell Chinyengetrwe at FC Platinum. In addition, the number 6, plays a vital role in this stage as well, distributing possession and dictating passages of play.
Now the question is, how would his tactics (theoretically) translate to Zimbabwe? In many ways, Mapeza’s direct football would be a refreshing change of pace for a slow and dilapidated Warriors squad. Pushing that idea further, his potential starting lineup could include a three-man backline, along with attack-minded wing-backs.
Whether this squad at hand could play in his preferred systems is another problem entirely. Clear to most, Zimbabwe’s defence is not sturdy enough to absorb pressure, nor do they have enough pace to play on the break.
Positively, Mapeza could also bring balance and stability to a team that desperately lacks an identity. On the other hand, some would oppose his pragmatic tendencies and apparent comfortability with playing on the break. Still, being solid defensively does not necessarily make him a defensive-minded manager.
Biggest Question Marks
One of the biggest questions that come with pursuing Norman Mapeza is the possibility of matching his club salary and desires regards the foreign based brigade who may not acquiesce to is dictatorial and controlling style.
It is also important to consider whether Mapeza is the right choice to lead a long-term project, one that necessitates patience and nurturing plenty of youngsters who need polishing and time to grow. Throughout his career, he has often been a short-term manager, rather than having prolonged exposure to one team.
Setbacks on the biggest stage
Despite winning multiple league titles, there is still one stain on Mapeza’s résumé: a lack of success in the Champions League or with the national team in all five of his previous spells in charge. he has failed to get further than the first round qualifiers and he has had countless early exits with squads that have warranted deep runs.
The Warriors have not impressed either, but looking for a manager with a proven track record in continental competitions is important.
Last season, his FC Platinum side failed to make it into the Champions League group stages– not for the first time.
Closing thoughts
In all, wanting Mapeza with the Warriors comes down to whether one would rather prioritize (potential) short-term results, or exercise patience and think long-term. His credentials are nearly flawless and one can not argue against his merit as a manager or tactician.
After all, his résumé and tactical know-how speak for themselves, even if he has admittedly struggled on the biggest stage. However, he is not the optimum choice to stay put and help drag Barcelona out of the gutter – for good.
He may not be a long-term solution, but as a short-term fix, he stands shoulders above the rest. The only problem is, Zifa should steer clear of short-term thinking.
