WARRIORS interim coach Klaus-Dieter Pagels has picked former Dynamos and Kiglon coach Lloyd Mutasa as his assistant in a technical structure that also includes Ian Gorowa.
Report by Kevin Mapasure
The new structure was announced by Zifa at a press conference yesterday.
The set-up has been tasked with rebuilding the Warriors into a formidable side after the team’s failure to qualify for the African Cup of Nations in neighbouring South Africa next year.
Monomotapa’s Nkululeko Dla-mini is the new goalkeepers’ coach while Peter Ndlovu retains his place as one of the assistants by virtue of his post as national Under-23 coach.
Pagels said he had picked Mutasa because they share the same football philosophy.
“When I came here I watched Kiglon play and was impressed with the type of football they were playing,” said Pagels. “So I thought Mutasa has the same philosophy of football as me that is why I selected him.”
Pagels emphasised that he wants the Warriors to play passing football and dump the kick-and-rush style they had adopted lately.
“I observed that we play a lot of kick-and-rush football in Zimbabwe. The defender blasts the ball forward and relaxes, but I want to transform the Warriors the way we transformed the Mighty Warriors who now play good one touch football.”
Pagels said because he has been to different parts of the country, it would be easy to bring talented youngsters into the team.
“My task has been to identify youths around the country. It is important to bring in these success hungry youths who still have the drive in the team.”
He said while his priority is to rebuild the team, he still hoped to help the Warriors qualify for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.
Gorowa’s task would be to monitor foreign-based players, especially those in South Africa where the Warriors draw most of their talent.
The new structure also sees the return of Sharriff Mussa who replaces Nyika Chifamba as team manager.
Zifa president Cuthbert Dube implored football fans to be patient during the rebuilding phase.
“Zifa would like to appeal to the football family to have unity of purpose as we rebuild the Warriors,” said Dube.
“The rebuilding exercise will not be a stroll in the park given that the exercise would have to endure all sorts of social and economic terrains. We appeal to the entire nation to rally behind the new technical structure to work round the clock in laying a strong foundation for the Warriors; a foundation upon which Zimbabwe’s football folklore shall be rebuilt.”
Zifa is forming a Zimbabwe Football Trust committee that will help gather resources for all national teams.
The association has promised to give full support to Pagels’ plans for the Warriors. The coach has already drawn up a list of nations he wishes the team to engage in friendlies ahead of next year’s World Cup qualifiers.
Zifa is courting Nigeria for an international friendly next year after they were turned down by Ghana.
its not easy get good friendlies because you are useless
After the appointment of national coach, we should not hear anything from the ZIFA chairman about the national team. The coach now becomes our central figure for the national team. The coach becomes more accountable and more powerful and is more likely to give you excellent results. It was very unfortunate that Cuthbert Dube passed some distasteful comments about Knowledge Musona last year. Because his comments influenced team selection, which team eventually failed to qualify for AFCON 2013, the axe should not have stopped at Rahman, we still expect the axe to fall on Cuthbert as well.
In successful footballing countries, the national coach is the one who enjoys publicity, not the association chairman. In Zimbabwe its the opposite. Lets give our national coach the status he deserves.
Kick and rush football was introduced by your fellow country man the late Fabisch. And you want to know why it served us well albeit taking us to only two AFCON finals so far? Because a passing game requires intelligent, bright and skillful players. I can only think of three the warriors can boast of in the last thirty or so years. Moses Chunga, Peter Ndlovu and Ronald Sibanda.
I can’t think of any country in Africa right now with a lot of soccer talent that Zimbabwe currently has at its disposal. The Musonas, Billiats, Karurus, Mushekwis, the list goes on. I would compare the current crop of talent to that Nigeria once had at its disposal in a team that comprised the Finnidy Georges, Okochas, Amunikes, Yekinis, Olisehs, Kanus and so on. The problem is with our players. Playing for their country means nothing to them. They just couldn’t care less, period as long as they are doing well wherever they are. Contrast that with the current Zambian team that has very mediocre natural talent but high on patriotism. I don’t why Mr Pagels you bothered take up this job. You’ll just end up soiling whatever reputation you may have had.
You can definitely see your skills in the work you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to say how they believe. At all times follow your heart.
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