Wiesław Grabowski
Personal information
Place of birth Poland
Managerial career
Years Team
1978 Poland (assistant)
1983–1984 Zambia
Darryn T
1995 Zimbabwe U23
2002 Zimbabwe
DT Africa United (director and owner)

Wiesław Grabowski is a Polish football coach and the owner of Zimbabwean club DT Africa United which plays in the lower divisions of the country. The Pole was most known for identifying a host of Zimbabwean players at a young age who later became stars, such as Gift Muzadzi and Norman Mapeza.[1]

Coaching career

Graduating from the Cologne Coaching School,[2] Grabowski was manager of the Zambia national team from 1983 to 1984,[3] earning a salary 6500 dollars[4] and came to Zimbabwe as part of a government exchange program in 1985.[1] Once in the country, he was apprised of the living conditions by a Yugoslavian trainer named Lukic, who instructed him not to adjust to it.[4]

Zimbabwe National Team

Assistant of the Poland squad that participated in the 1978 FIFA World Cup,[5] Grabowski took the role of head coach of the Zimbabwe national team in 2002 even though the fans were hoping for Bruce Grobbelaar to take the job.[5] Just after his appointment, he was accused of 'canvassing' for the post and promised to personally broker deals that would benefit the Zimbabwe Football Association.[6] Responding to this, Grabowski claimed he got the job since he was the best applicant, convinced that the media and others were bent on subverting him.[6] Tasked with selecting a roster able to reach the 2004 African Cup of Nations, the trainer named a 21-man squad for a series of training camps, leaving out key player Maxwell Dube because of his corpulence so he needed to lose weight.[7] Despite delaying Grabowski's firing as coach,[8] the Zimbabwe Football Association eventually announced his official sacking in May 2002, abashed by a 0-2 loss to Swaziland in the quarter-final of the 2002 COSAFA Cup.[9]

He coached the Zimbabwe Under-23 team that achieved second place at the 1995 All-Africa Games, claiming the silver medal.[5]

Zimbabwe

Director of DT Africa United, Grabowski was in a dispute over whether he was preventing player Kelvin Bulaji from joining CAPS United in 2013.[10] Bulaji took his case to the ZIFA Player's Status Committee and appealed to the Footballer's Union of Zimbabwe for assistance.[10]

Bringing foreigners into the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League for the first time,[1] the highlight of the Polish coach's career in Africa was leading Darryn T to the 1992 Zimbabwe Cup trophy by beating CAPS United 4-0 in the final with a team full of youngsters which showed his paradigm for youth football development of giving young players opportunities to perform.[1]

The former Zambia national team manager has also complained about Zimbabwean football's apparent lack of focus on development.[11]

He has worked with the Prince Edward School in Harare to assist budding football talents find their way into playing it professionally, including footballers from Angola.[11]

Going to China to give coaching training in 2015,[2] he requested asked the Zimbabwe national team to have more fixtures each year and to have more exchange programs for coaches.[12]

Personal life

Owning property in Germany and Zimbabwe,[4] Grabowski has two houses in Poland which are located in Zabrze and Wisła.[2] Besides being club owner of DT Africa United, he is a tourism ambassador with his wife Krystyna who is a representative consul from Poland and they are both involved in an eleemosynary institution for autistic children.[2] His residence in Zimbabwe is on Gun Hill Avenue, Harare.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Heroes or Villains: The cases of President Banana and Wiesław Grabowski". Nehandaradio.com. 10 January 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Wiesław Grabowski z wizytą w Polsce » Sport » Afryka.org... inaczej". Afryka.org. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "Zambian Football History Academy". Facebook.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 "Wiesław Grabowski: Jestem jak misjonarz". Sport.dziennik.pl. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 "Grabowski returns as Zimbabwe coach". News.bbc.co.uk. 6 March 2002. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  6. 1 2 Majonga, Darlington (7 March 2002). "Zimbabwe: Grabowski Accused of 'Canvassing'". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "Zimbabwe rebuild". News.bbc.co.uk. 31 March 2002. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  8. ↑ Rushwaya, Simba (9 May 2002). "Zimbabwe: Grabowski Spared Axe". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  9. ↑ Correspondent, A. Special (13 May 2002). "Zimbabwe: ZIFA Fires Coach Grabowski". AllAfrica.com. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  10. 1 2 "Zimbabwe: Grabowski Disputes Former Player's Claims". Allafrica.com. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  11. 1 2 "Grabowski slams negativity". Herald.co.zw. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
  12. 1 2 "'Kawondera could have played for Man United'". Thestandard.co.zw. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2017.
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