Zimbabwe appoint Rahman Gumbo as interim national coach

Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze has hinted that Gumbo could keep the position on a permanent basis

The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has appointed Rahman Gumbo as interim national team coach.

It follows the suspension of Norman Mapeza, who is under investigation for alleged match-fixing.

Last week Zifa excluded 80 players from national team selection until they are cleared by an independent disciplinary committee.

The body is considering the cases of players and officials who toured Asia and elsewhere between 2007 and 2009.

Mapeza was suspended by Zifa on Tuesday, along with assistant coach Joey Antipas.

As the two-year long process nears conclusion, former Zifa chief executive Henrietta Rushwaya was arrested last week on charges of bribery and match-fixing and will face trial later this month.

Gumbo is coach of FC Platinum, one of Zimbabwe's representatives in this year's Champions League, and he had a five-month spell in charge of the national team in 2004.

He will lead the Warriors in their 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Burundi at the end of this month, after which a long-term decision will be made.

The match-fixing inquiry is expected rule on the cases of players and officials in mid-March.

Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze hinted that even if Mapeza is cleared, he could still lose the position to Gumbo.

"We will look at the issue of results for the Burundi game, and we will make substantive appointments after that match," he told BBC Sport.

Meanwhile, former Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu has been appointed national under-23 coach.

It is the first coaching job of any kind for Ndlovu, whose 13 seasons in English football from 1991 to 2004 made him the longest-serving African player in that country.