'Warriors job not for local coaches'

By Munyaradzi Madzokere | Aug. 6, 2023

Dynamos coach Herbert Maruwa declared his interest in the Warriors job and said he was going to apply.

BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE

LOCAL football expert has warned that the history of ill-treatment and abuse of employees by Zifa, has made the Warriors job unattractive for local coaches.

Zifa, through the normalisation committee set in motion the search for the new Warriors coach last week when they advertised the job as well as vacancies for the Mighty Warriors and other men and women age-group technical team positions.

The Warriors are set to participate in the Chan and World Cup qualifiers before year-end and Zifa has encouraged local coaches to apply for the position.

While debate is raging on whether Zifa should appoint foreign or local coaches, a football expert who chose anonymity told Standardsport that it is not surprising to see some of the best qualified trainers such as Kalisto Pasuwa and Norman Mapeza not applying because the national association still owes them.

"The Warriors job certainly generates interest from coaches across the globe. I am not sure about local coaches because if you look at it most if not all of the natives, who have coached the national teams are still owed by Zifa," the expert said.

"We have all that we need in terms of coaches in this country, coaches who can lead us to success, but the problem has always been the treatment from Zifa.

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"It's safe to say the Warriors job is always attractive to foreign coaches who the national association is always happy to pay. Coaches like Norman Mapeza and Kalisto Pasuwa are likely to think twice before applying because they are probably still owed money by Zifa.

"Look at some of the most successful teams in Africa such as Morocco, Senegal and Cameroon, they have local coaches. We just have to change this bad culture of ill-treating our own coaches," he said.

Interestingly Zifa has a history of owing local coaches including Mapeza, Pasuwa, Sunday Chidzambwa, Ian Gorowa, Charles Mhlauri and Joey Antipas who have coached the Warriors.

It is understood that Croatian coach Zdravko Logarusic, who was succeeded by Mapeza before Zimbabwe was suspended by Fifa is also owed his dues.

But things could be different with the normalisation committee installed by Fifa to run football affairs in the country.

The Warriors job advert revealed that the salary will be in US dollars and will probably be paid directly by Fifa.

Dynamos coach Herbert Maruwa declared his interest in the Warriors job and said he was going to apply. But it would be interesting to see how many local coaches will throw their names into the hat.

There is a section of fans pushing for Highlanders coach Baltemar Brito to take over the reins while others have vouched for South Africa-based Kaitano Tembo, Mapeza, Pasuwa as well as Bruce Grobbelaar among others.

Popular football supporter Chris 'Romario Musekiwa says fans prefer the best candidate for the team whether local or foreign.

"May the best candidate be appointed as the next Warriors coach, whether local or foreign as long as he has the technical expertise, prerequisite qualifications and experience,' Musekiwa said.

"We are saying no to recycling of failed coaches.

"The technical committee should cast their nets wider, the Warriors top job demands someone respectable with credentials to take us to the World Cup finals.

"Motivation will be key, hence we also call for full financial support for the team from the government and the corporate world. We don't have time to waste the new Warriors Coach should be appointed without delay.

"In my opinion Warriors legend Bruce Grobbelaar assisted by Joey Antipas, Germany-based George Mbwando and US-based Sam Ncube — " Young Pep" — who can also be the next Under-23 coach can do a wonderful job."

Applications for the various national team coaching jobs close this Friday and Zifa wants to finalise on the coaches by the end of the month.