Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Ian Gorowa has quit his career in the dugout, turning his attention to a different path away from football.
The 53-year-old has been off the radar since leaving his role as Zimbabwe national team coach in 2014. This comes after a promising career as a tactician, which at one point saw him being Sundowns’ interim coach between February and June 2011 following the departure of Spaniard Antonio Lopez Habas.
In the 12 PSL games he was in charge of Masandawana, Gorowa managed eight wins, a draw and three defeats. He appeared to have done enough to position himself for a permanent role at Chloorkop, but the Brazilians opted to hire Johan Neeskens.
Currently based in Johannesburg, Gorowa was recently rumoured to he headed back to Zimbabwe to take up a job with N’ombeyawora FC. The ambitious First Division side is owned by those running top-flight league side Scottland FC. The newly-crowned Zimbabwean champions have the former Kaizer Chiefs duo Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat in their books.
“Yes, I read it somewhere. Somebody showed me that I’m being linked with that team [N’ombeyawora], but it is not true,” Gorowa told FARPost.
“I had gone to Zimbabwe to do what I had to do there. My health is not okay. So, a friend of mine [Nesbert Saruchera] coaches that team, and he asked me to help with just one training session. I worked with his boys for just one session.”
GOROWA SWAPS TACTICS BOARD FOR THE BIBLE
Gorowa says he has no desire to return to the dugout, choosing instead to focus on his work as a gospel minister. The former Cape Town Spurs winger is a pastor at Apostolic Faith Mission.
When asked whether he would ever return to football coaching if an offer were tabled before him, Gorowa boldly responded: “No, I won’t accept.
“Yes, I have cancelled coaching as a career. I’m not coming back. I’m winning souls now. The journey [as a pastor] has been very good, I’m enjoying it. Yes, it’s fulfilling and enriches one’s spirit.
“That I’m joining a team from Zimbabwe is not true. I was not feeling well, and my child got me an air ticket, and I went home, but I’m back now. People just speculate and don’t approach me; I just leave them.”
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