Black Mambas Queens coach scoops August Coach of the Month award
By Auther Chimbgwa
Black Mambas Queens FC coach Martin Bonongwe has won the August Coach of the Month award in the Women Premier Soccer League following his brave attempts to steer the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) affiliated team clear of the relegation zone.
It was no surprise also that their goalkeeper Christine Chinhamo snatched the Goalkeeper of the Month award for the same month as she kept three clean sheets.
Affectionately known as Metso, Bonongwe ran away with the accolade after masterminding three wins in August.
These include similar 1-0 victories against Cranborne Royals and Highlanders Royals and a 2-0 win over Red Buffaloes. He also managed a 1-1 draw against Harare City in his first game in charge in July.
Prior to that, the police team has been struggling, and is currently positioned second from bottom on the Zimbabwe Women Premier Soccer League log table.
The team has, however, caught up with the teams just above the relegation zone and only lies second by virtue of an inferior goal difference.
The league has 16 teams.
Under former coach Innocent Nyoni, things had not been rosy for the Harare based team which has been losing a lot of matches.
The team’s Communications Manager Portia Chinho is, however, optimistic about her team’s future.
“The problem we had is that our players were previously discontented by poor remuneration, thereby leaving the team en masse for greener pastures,” said Chinho in an interview, “but the ZRP has stepped in to stem the tide as there is now a basic salary and winning bonuses.”
Also speaking to Zimstar News, Black Mambas Queens chairperson James Mufudza, was confident the team will finish in a respectable position in the league following wholesale changes in the way the club was being run recently.
“We have recently acquired top players in the mould of former national team player Rutengo Madongorere following a major shakeup at our club,” said Mufudza. “Next season we will be aiming to win the championship.”
According to Mufudza, the team is composed of police as well as civilian members.
Black Mambas Queens FC has been in the Women Premier Soccer league since 2015, and although it has not yet won the championship yet, it has, more than in most cases, been finishing among the top four teams since then.
Last year, Black Mambas Queens FC bagged the silver medal in the Heart tournament which was vied for by all the teams in the Women Premier Soccer League and was sponsored by Yadah owner Walter Magaya.
Among some of the top players that the teams banks on are skipper Belinda Sibanda (midfielder), top strikers Ropafadzo Sadomba and Lisa Tapiringana as well as Madongorere.
