Costa Dinha's lengthy service and bountiful career in local and international rugby has finally earned him recognition with a top appointment in the national team structures.

Dinha is now the Sables assistant coach.

Cyprian "Supa" Mandenge, the senior national team mentor, broke the news to journalists as the 39-year old went about his new duties at a Sables session in the capital, guiding the forwards through their paces.

"Costa, well he is a natural leader,'' Mandenge asserted.

"But now he has been working with the forwards. You want someone who is close to the players, someone who the players can look up to.

"So I have asked him to come with me as the assistant coach. (Daniel) Hondo is not available, Brighton (Chivandire) as well and Gilbert Nyamutsamba, all these are part of the technical team with Costa.

"Look I want everyone who can work with the team. But only Costa is free to go on this trip,'' said the coach.

Dinha's elevation is a fitting crown on his illustrious career that has taken him to the German Bundesliga and seen him skipper the Sables to their only Africa Cup success in 2012.

The versatile forward, who is equally at home playing in the second row or among the loose trio as eighthman, last put on the national team colours during the failed Africa Cup campaign of this year.

His was by far the most notable contribution to the team's lost cause as he alone overpowered the heavy and seemingly indomitable Kenyan pack and managed to score one of Zimbabwe's only two tries in the 11-65 drubbing at Police Grounds in Harare.

Dinha, also a former Zimbabwe and Varsity Leopards basketball star, did not want to shed light on his mid-term plans, referring all questions to Mandenge, but one of his close friends intimated to Suburban that he was likely to take up a similar posting at his boyhood club side Old Hararians.

"Costa still loves playing and is still one of the best players locally. With his experience OH might also ask him to grab the reins and maybe utilise him as player/coach for the 2017 season,'' the friend told Suburban.