Norman Mapeza

{{short description|Zimbabwean footballer and coach (born 1972)}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Norman Mapeza

| image =

| fullname = Norman Takanyariwa Mapeza

| height = {{height|m=1.84|precision=0}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1972|4|12}}

| birth_place = Salisbury, Rhodesia
(now Harare, Zimbabwe)

| currentclub = Platinum (Manager)

| clubnumber =

| position = Defensive midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Red Arrows

| youthclubs2 = Chitungwiza juniors

| youthclubs3 = Darryn Textiles

| years1 = 1991–1993

| clubs1 = Darryn Textiles

| caps1 = 68

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 1993–1994

| clubs2 = Sokół Pniewy

| caps2 = 26

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 1994–1995

| clubs3 = Galatasaray

| caps3 = 25

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 1995–1996

| clubs4 = Ankaragücü

| caps4 = 31

| goals4 = 2

| years5 = 1996–1997

| clubs5 = Altay

| caps5 = 29

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 1997–1998

| clubs6 = Dardanelspor

| caps6 = 30

| goals6 = 2

| years7 = 1998–1999

| clubs7 = Denizlispor

| caps7 = 31

| goals7 = 0

| years8 = 1999–2000

| clubs8 = Altay

| caps8 = 26

| goals8 = 1

| years9 = 2000–2001

| clubs9 = SV Ried

| caps9 = 10

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2001–2002

| clubs10 = Malatyaspor

| caps10 = 17

| goals10 = 0

| years11 = 2003–2005

| clubs11 = CAPS United

| caps11 = 28

| goals11 = 1

| years12 = 2005–2006

| clubs12 = Ajax Cape Town

| caps12 = 11

| goals12 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 1993–2001

| nationalteam1 = Zimbabwe

| nationalcaps1 = 92

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| manageryears1 = 2007–2008

| managerclubs1 = Monomotapa United

| manageryears2 = 2007

| managerclubs2 = Zimbabwe (caretaker)

| manageryears3 = 2009–2010

| managerclubs3 = Zimbabwe (caretaker)

| manageryears4 = 2011–2012

| managerclubs4 = Zimbabwe

| manageryears5 = 2014–2019

| managerclubs5 = Platinum

| manageryears6 = 2017

| managerclubs6 = Zimbabwe (caretaker)

| manageryears7 = 2019–2020

| managerclubs7 = Chippa United

| manageryears8 = 2020–2021

| managerclubs8 = Platinum

| manageryears9 = 2021–2022

| managerclubs9 = Zimbabwe (caretaker)

| manageryears10 = 2021–

| managerclubs10 = Platinum

| manageryears11 = 2024

| managerclubs11 = Zimbabwe (caretaker)

}}

Norman Takanyariwa Mapeza (born 12 April 1972) is a Zimbabwean football manager and former player. During his career, he played as a defender and midfielder.

Club career

Mapeza began his playing career with Darryn Textiles F.C. in Harare. He moved to Europe to play with Sokół Pniewy in the Polish Ekstraklasa for the 1993–94 season.{{cite web|publisher=90 Minut|title=Norman Mapeza|url=http://www.90minut.pl/kariera.php?id=1260|accessdate=2009-06-25}} Mapeza next played for several clubs in the Turkish Super Lig, including Galatasaray S.K., Ankaragücü, Altay S.K. and Malatyaspor.{{cite web|publisher=TFF|title=NORMAN TAKANYARİWA MAPEZA|url=http://www.tff.org.tr/Default.aspx?pageId=526&kisiId=25804|accessdate=2009-06-25}}

He was only the second Zimbabwean player to play in the UEFA Champions League,http://www.thestandard.co.zw/sports/35407-open-letter-to-norman-mapeza.html {{Dead link|date=February 2022}} appearing in the competition with Galatasaray in the 1990s.

Coaching career

In the 2003–04 season, Mapeza functioned as a playing assistant coach at CAPS United and later in a similar role for Ajax Cape Town in the 2005–06 season.[https://www.herald.co.zw/yanga-a-big-dent-on-mapezas-cv/ Yanga: A Big Dent on Mapeza's CV], herald.co.zw, 19 March 2015 He ended his playing career in the summer 2006.[https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-sports-sc-soccer-byo-183807.html Mapeza praises Wiesław Grabowski's mentorship], bulawayo24.com, 20 April 2020

In July 2007, Mapeza was appointed manager of Monomotapa United back in Zimbabwe.[https://www.newsday.co.zw/2014/09/history-mapezas-side-ndlovu-ruled/ History not on Mapeza’s side, Ndlovu ruled out], newsday.co.zw, 19 September 2014[https://www.herald.co.zw/yanga-a-big-dent-on-mapezas-cv/ Mapeza remains humble], herald.co.zw], herald.co.zw, 25 July 2008 He resigned from his position later in 2008 .[https://nehandaradio.com/2018/05/10/dhlakama-takes-over-chapungu/ Dhlakama takes over Chapungu], nehandaradio.com, 18 May 2018 In August and September 2007, Mapeza also took charge of Zimbabwe's national football team on interim basis.[https://www.voazimbabwe.com/a/a-13-56-74-2007-09-10-voa61-68997057/1459700.html Fans Urge Zimbabwe Football Association To Name Ex-Player Team Coach], voazimbabwe.com, 10 September 2007[https://www.thezimbabwean.co/2007/09/mapezas-young-warriors/ Mapeza’s young Warriors], thezimbabwean.co, 6 September 2007[https://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=30706&page=archive-read Zimbabwe name two caretaker coaches], namibian.com.na, 10 August 2007

In the beginning of May 2009, Mapeza was appointed caretaker manager of Zimbabwe once again.[https://nehandaradio.com/2010/07/28/zifa-extend-mapeza-rein-as-caretaker-coach/ ZIFA extend Mapeza rein as caretaker coach], nehandaradio.com, 28 July 2010 He resigned in November 2010.[https://www.radiovop.com/norman-mapeza-quits-as-caretaker-coach/ Norman Mapeza Quits As Caretaker Coach], radiovop.com, 8 November 2010

In March 2011, Mapeza was again appointed Zimbabwe manager for a third spell in four years.[https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/54/7177/Sports/Africa/Mapeza-appointed-Zimbabwe-coach.aspx Mapeza appointed Zimbabwe coach], english.ahram.org.eg, 7 March 2011 In February 2012, he was suspended from his job as Zimbabwe's national football team manager for alleged match-fixing.{{cite web|title=Mapeza technically axed|url=http://www.bulawayo24.com/index-id-sports-sc-soccer-byo-11802-article-Mapeza+technically+axed+.html|publisher=Bulawayo24.com|accessdate=9 February 2012|date=5 February 2012}}

On 11 August 2014, Mapeza was appointed manager of F.C. Platinum.[https://www.herald.co.zw/fc-platinum-confirm-mapeza-appointment/ FC Platinum confirm Mapeza appointment], herald.co.zw, 11 August 2014 And in March 2017, Mapeza was also appointed caretaker manager of Zimbabwe for the fourth time until November 2017.[https://africanfootball.com/news/696954/Mapeza-appointed-Zimbabwe-coach MAPEZA APPOINTED ZIMBABWE COACH], africanfootball.com, 22 March 2017 Mapeza left his position at Platinum on 12 September 2019[https://www.newzimbabwe.com/mapeza-quits-as-fc-platinum-coach/ Mapeza quits as FC Platinum coach], newzimbabwe.com, 12 September 2019 and was appointed the manager of the South African PSL team Chippa United on 1 October 2019.[https://www.goal.com/en/news/mapeza-zimbabwean-tactician-appointed-new-chippa-united-head/1uky5ck8iq3ko1xnjwt9x49hf6 Mapeza: Zimbabwean tactician appointed new Chippa United head coach], goal.com, 1 October 2019 He left Chippa in March 2020.[https://www.timeslive.co.za/sport/soccer/2020-03-03-drama-at-chippa-united-as-coach-norman-mapeza-quits-the-eastern-cape-premiership-side/ Drama at Chippa United as coach Norman Mapeza quits the Eastern Cape premiership side], timeslive.co.za, 3 March 2020

In November 2020, Mapeza returned to F.C. Platinum as the clubs new manager.[https://www.soccer24.co.zw/2020/11/20/breaking-mapeza-appointed-fc-platinum-coach/ Breaking: Mapeza appointed FC Platinum coach], soccer24.co.zw, 20 November 2020

On 15 September 2021, Mapeza was appointed caretaker manager of the Zimbabwe's national football team.{{cite web| url = https://www.herald.co.zw/mapeza-agrees-to-three-month-warriors-deal/| title = Mapeza agrees to three-month Warriors deal {{!}} The Herald}}