The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
Sports Reporter
FOR Rosemary Mugadza, watching her football career unravel before her eyes must feel more like an out of body experience.
Today, the name “Rosemary Mugadza” has become synonymous with the women’s game, and the former Zimbabwe Saints ladies’ stalwart has been a flag çarrier in women in football for decades.
Her recent appointment as Harare City assistant coach has put all that into perspective.
Her first reaction, given the shock of it all, was to turn down the offer, but after sleeping on it she decided to take the challenge.
“It came as a surprise to be appointed as an assistant coach for Harare City,” said Mugadza.
“I had given myself about three seasons to finish what I wanted to do with women’s football, and this was not part of the plan just yet.
“After it was revealed that I would be the first assistant to coach Tarisai Kaseke, I didn’t know what to say. I said to myself it’s not the right time take up the job, as I felt I was not ready or prepared. However, as one of my objectives is to coach a men’s side some day, I then decided to grab the opportunity with both hands,” she said.
The decision to accept the job looks to have been the right call as Mugadza is currently having a blast.
“I am enjoying and looking forward to going to every training session with the boys,” she said.
“They have given me the support that I needed, when I thought it was going to be difficult to work with them, and I have enjoyed myself so far.
“They are a good team,” she said.
“Content” has never been a word used to describe the former Mighty Warriors gaffer, and Mugadza has her sights on higher assignments.
Higher national offices to be exact, something she hinted at recently during a chat with the Zimbabwe general manager for national teams Wellington Mpandare.
“So this other day I was laughing with Wellington Mpandare, when they were looking for a national team coach, and jokingly told him that I would want to take over from Loga (Zdravko Logarusic),” she recalls.
While this was said in jest, Mugadza still habours ambition to one day sit on the Warriors’ dugout.
“It is one of my objectives to coach the men’s national team one day, though I would also be happy to lead Under-23s or any junior men’s national teams.
“I believe I would have done my part and fulfilled my wish.
“From the day I started this journey, back 2001, I have mostly coached women’s sides.
‘In fact, I think I have coached all the women’s football national teams, and now the next step would be to sit on the bench for the men’s national team.
“It can even be one of the junior teams” said Mugadza.
That is not necessairily the end game, as coaching the men’s national team is one of many items on her bucketlist.
Before then there is the issue with her current role at Harare City, some unfinished business in the women’s game and then possibly riding off into the sunset as a coaching instructor.
“As you might be aware, I am now a certified Caf instructor, but the original plan was to coach the ladies for the next three and then retire in 2024,” said Mugadza.
“I also wanted to coach the men’s team for two years, before concentrating on being an instructor,” she said.
Unfortunately, her recent appointment looks to have spoiled those plans or the order of events she had in mind.
