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]

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]

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]

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]

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]