Zifa vice-president Gift Banda has explained why they appointed Tonderai Ndiraya as one of the two assistants to the Warriors coach, Sunday Chidzambwa.

Ndiraya, together with former Highlanders gaffer Bongani Mafu, was officially unveiled as the new member of the technical team at a press conference held on Tuesday.

The former Ngezi Platinum Stars mentor was also named the national Under-23 coach where he will be assisted by Mandla Mpofu and Lizwe Sweswe.

“The Under-23 coach has to be part of the senior team so that there is smooth graduation of players into the senior team,” he said.

“We realised that none of the two assistant coaches was in the junior structures and we needed to change that.”

Ndiraya and Mafu replace Lloyd Mutasa and Rahman Gumbo who were relieved of their duties last week.