Peter Ndlovu is taking temporary charge of Scottland FC after the club fired Norman Mapeza and his coaching staff. The former Zimbabwe Warriors captain remains with the Mabvuku side as it looks for a new head coach, with a Portuguese candidate reportedly in the mix.
The shake-up came after Scottland crashed out of the CAF Champions League in Angola. Club bosses cleared out Mapeza's technical crew but kept Ndlovu, who had been serving as team manager.
And the transition is already taking shape. Ndlovu has met with Danger Fourpence, who has earned a move up from the club's academy to help with coaching duties.
Veteran forward Knowledge Musona was also part of those talks. Reports suggest he has been asked to keep the squad focused and committed while Scottland deals with the staff changes.
The search for a permanent boss may take the club abroad. Sources say Scottland wants a manager from Portugal, though no specific candidate has been named.
But there is still football to play. The reigning Zimbabwean champions have four league games left and a spot in the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup semifinals. Whoever gets the job will have domestic goals to pursue.
Mapeza's exit comes after a campaign that had looked quite promising. He took over at the start of the season and helped Scottland build a seven-point league lead at the halfway stage.
That makes the coaching change quite a surprise. Despite the earlier run of good form, the club chose a fresh direction after its African campaign came to a halt.
There is another twist involving Petro Atletico de Luanda. The Angolan club that faced Scottland in the continental tournament has also parted ways with its coach. Both teams from that Champions League tie have ended up changing their technical leadership.
For Ndlovu, the job is to keep things steady while club officials seek a long-term replacement. Scottland still has a chance to compete for domestic honors, and its players will need to adapt to a new setup.
The shake-up came after Scottland crashed out of the CAF Champions League in Angola. Club bosses cleared out Mapeza's technical crew but kept Ndlovu, who had been serving as team manager.
And the transition is already taking shape. Ndlovu has met with Danger Fourpence, who has earned a move up from the club's academy to help with coaching duties.
Veteran forward Knowledge Musona was also part of those talks. Reports suggest he has been asked to keep the squad focused and committed while Scottland deals with the staff changes.
The search for a permanent boss may take the club abroad. Sources say Scottland wants a manager from Portugal, though no specific candidate has been named.
But there is still football to play. The reigning Zimbabwean champions have four league games left and a spot in the Munhumutapa Challenge Cup semifinals. Whoever gets the job will have domestic goals to pursue.
Mapeza's exit comes after a campaign that had looked quite promising. He took over at the start of the season and helped Scottland build a seven-point league lead at the halfway stage.
That makes the coaching change quite a surprise. Despite the earlier run of good form, the club chose a fresh direction after its African campaign came to a halt.
There is another twist involving Petro Atletico de Luanda. The Angolan club that faced Scottland in the continental tournament has also parted ways with its coach. Both teams from that Champions League tie have ended up changing their technical leadership.
For Ndlovu, the job is to keep things steady while club officials seek a long-term replacement. Scottland still has a chance to compete for domestic honors, and its players will need to adapt to a new setup.
