CRICKET: No, I won’t quit: Mangongo

07 Dec, 2014 - 00:12 0 Views
CRICKET: No, I won’t quit: Mangongo Steve Mangongo

The Sunday Mail

Steve Mangongo

Steve Mangongo

UNDER-FIRE Zimbabwe cricket team coach Stephen Mangongo says he is not quitting his job despite growing calls to do so following the team’s disastrous tour of Bangladesh.

The Chevrons were involved in a humiliating tour of the sub-continent, getting mauled 8-0.

They lost the Test series 3-0 and the One Day International series 5-0.

Critics have called for changes, with former captain and selector Alistair Campbell, who is set to assume the newly-created role of managing director of cricket at Zimbabwe Cricket, leading the charge.

However, a defiant Mangongo last night told The Sunday Mail that he will stay on.

“I keep saying we are work in progress. Yes, we had a tough time in Bangladesh, no doubt about that . . . we can’t run away from reality,” he said.

“I love my job and I back myself. I am not a quitter and I still have plans with the team. I have never been worried, not even one day. I am only three months into the job and for me to quit now won’t make any sense; there should no panicking.”

Mangongo also backed his backroom team, which has former player Douglas Hondo as bowling coach and Rufaro Chiturumani as the batting coach.

“They are just new to the job, but look, we have Elton (Chigumbura) bowling again, Chatara is bowling 140s.

“Chiturumani is the batting coach and we saw Hamilton getting his best Test score, Chakabva getting his first Test century. All these things show the guys are working hard. It’s only a pity that it didn’t come collectively.”

Mangongo, just like ZC chairman Wilson Manase, apologised for the pathetic show in Bangladesh.

“We apologise to our fans; we will work on our shortcomings, we are tough boys,” he said.

“To be honest, at times it was frustrating and disappointing the way some of our senior batters performed. When your senior batters don’t perform, you will be under the pump.

“There were, however, some good performances in between, but we lost too many key moments in all our matches.

“We needed the resolve to kick-start, good temperament and mental strength and we will work on that . . . the senior guys need to work on their minds.”

In his assessment, Campbell claimed that Zimbabwe is suffering because the team does not have people who played international cricket within the technical team. It’s a claim Mangongo rubbishes.

“I will keep saying this, Zimbabwe is a democratic country; he (Campbell) is entitled to his own opinion. However, he must stop lecturing us and also look at himself in the mirror.

“We have had so many coaches and we have been losing. We should take a holistic approach and find out where we are getting it wrong, why we are not performing, these are the questions we should be answering.”

Mangongo said they are now turning focus towards the 2015 World Cup, which explodes in Australia and New Zealand in two months’ time.

“We are grateful to ZC for their efforts in getting us games from the South Africa series, the Tri-series and Bangladesh. I am sure we might play some games before the World Cup, which we now put focus on. I am happy we have had the opportunity to look at more than 30 players in the build-up to the World Cup,” he said.

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