Norman Mapeza says taking a job at Chippa United was just a new challenge he wanted to explore.

The Zimbabwean gaffer was recently appointed the new head coach of the struggling ABSA Premiership side on a three-year contract.

He took over from Duran Francis, becoming the club’s third different coach this season.

The 47-year-old who left FC Platinum in September had declared that he was taking a break until the end of the year but made a u-turn and accepted the offer to move to South Africa.

According to TimesLive, Mapeza said his decision to join Chippa was pushed by the desire to grow.

“For me, the Chippa job is a challenge that I wanted to experience,” he said.

“You know as coaches and as footballers, we will always look to go somewhere. I was a footballer before, and my wish was to go and play my football in Europe‚” he said.

“If you look at good coaches‚ for you to grow you need opportunities like this.

“I will give you an example. If [Mamelodi Sundowns coach] Pitso Mosimane goes today and gets an offer to go and coach Aston Villa‚ I don’t think he will say no because it is a new challenge for him and that is what he wishes for as a coach. As coaches, our wish is to grow.”

Mapeza will take charge of his first match in the Telkom Knockout first round on the weekend of October 19 to 22 at home against Bloemfontein Celtic. His first league assignment is a clash with Highlands Park in Jo’burg in the following week.