The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has appointed Baltemar Brito as the head coach of the Warriors with immediate effect.
The Highlanders gaffer, whose contract runs until June 2024, will be assisted by former Hwange coach Bongani Mafu and Dynamos coach Genesis Mangombe, the ZIFA Normalisation Committee, in a statement, has said.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is pleased to inform the nation that it has appointed Baltemar Brito as the head coach of the senior men`s team forthwith until 2024. He will be assisted by Bongani Mafu and Genesis Mangombe.”
The Warriors have been without a coach since Norman Mapeza took the Warriors to the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 2021. Zimbabwe was then in 2022 banned by FIFA over government interference and the suspension was lifted this in July this year, with a Normalisation Committee being set up to reorganise the country` football affair until a new ZIFA board is in place.
“Brito and his assistants` first assignment will be the invitational match to celebrate Botswana`s Independence Day on 30 September. Thereafter they will have to begin working on creating a team to compete in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers in November,” the statement said.
The Warriors have the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers as well as the FIFA World Cup qualifiers starting in November, and Brito is expected to take charge of the team in these tournaments.
The Portuguese national has enjoyed a good stint with Highlanders that saw the local premiership side go for a 19-match unbeaten run this season.