Zimonline
By Sebastian Nyamhangambiri
7 October 2010
Zimbabwean Education and Sports Minister David Coltart has written to the country’s immigration authorities to reverse deportation of new national soccer coach Tom Saintfiet for working without a permit saying the decision to expel the Belgian coach was not in the interests of the country.
“I have written to the co-Ministers of home affairs to ensure that this decision is reviewed. It was made with no national interests and it will definitely affect the performance of our team,†Coltart said on Wednesday.
Saintfiet was ordered to leave the southern African country by immigration authorities and only return after obtaining a work permit allowing him to work as coach of the Warriors national side.
The co-home affairs ministers could not be reached for comment last night.
The former Namibia coach was last month appointed by the Zimbabwe Football Association to lead the Warriors in their preparations for an African Nations Cup qualifier against Cape Verde next weekend.
But immigration officials on Tuesday ordered Saintfiet to abandon preparations for the key game and leave Zimbabwe on the next flight out of the country and to only return upon obtaining a work permit.
Former Zimbabwe captain Norman Mapeza is expected to lead the team while the status of Saintfiet is being addressed.
Mapeza, who once played for Turkish giants Galatasaray, coached the Zimbabwe team in its previous assignment against Liberia last month in Monrovia where it salvaged a one-all draw.