By Jafferson Ndhlovu,
Dr. Philip Chiyangwa and his administration seem to be clueless of what it takes to “atleast” guarantee success to the national team.
Zimbabwe is a nation of tremendous football talent. Year in year out fresh and promising youngsters keep coming up on the scene. But that has not shown on the national level.
South African football league at all levels can attest to that churning out of talent. Zimbabwe probably have the largest contingent of its nationals amongs other countries plying their trade there.
There has been an amazing decline in fortunes of the national team dubbed the Warriors. For a while now the team has been oscillating around plus and minus 100 in the official Fifa rankings. That is demeaning for country with such an avalanche of talent.
The freefall started with past administrators led by Dr. Cuthbert Dube and was booted out unceremoniously because of the same dismals. Then came the Dr. Philip Chiyangwa mayhem and his docile board.
Dr. Chiyangwa promised the football fans revival of fortunes for the free falling national team. But seemingly the man has no idea on how to sort that mess. There is not even an avenue the deal with the Under 17, Under 20 or Under 23. Whether the man is aware football is played competitively at that level or not is a matter for the experts to explain.
The administrative mishaps have not helped the cause too. He has spent the greatest part of his tenure fighting boardroom wars both at home and on the continent. Football people have been expelled or suspended and reinstated wantonly. The most recent was the reinstatement of seasoned sports journalist and Harare City FC man Hope Chizuzu.
Chizuzu was suspended from all football matters on accusation of bringig the game of football into disrepute. But 360 turn was done and all accusations since dropped. What ever reasons used to suspend the man should never have been in the first place. But because the boss himself loves to show his biceps. It had to be done.
That chopping tide recently moved a step lower to players doing duty for the country. The boys being termed as mercenaries. Dr. Chiyangws should know better how terrible that term feels.
Since coming to power in December of 2015, the nation team has not seen reasonable friendly match of sensibility. And here we are again. Same old story.
Even when the nation team qualified to a major tournament in the form of AFCON 2017 in Gabon, the boys in yellow and green did not see a worthwhile preparatory match. And the President of Zifa and his stooping board expected the boys to make impressive grades.
Successful nationa teams dont simply wait upon miracles. They put in extra efforts. And the wait upon miracles. How do you expect deliverance when you not asked for it.
But Cry My Zimbabwe, its not the story.
This weekend the nation welcomes Liberia at the giant National Sports Stadium to kick start the 2019 AFCON qualifiers.
The big blessing has come from Prophet Walter Magaya of PHD ministries and Yadah Stars FC, who has been an amazing breather to the faulting and clueless Dr. Chiyangwa and his board. Camping the boys at his newly opened hotel, providing training facilities and feeding the boys. Well done Man of God.
Though we don’t need a rocket scientist to tell us that Big Phidza has no idea how football is won on the pitch..
The gift of sanctuary from Prophet Magaya though sincerely welcome is practically benefiting his struggling team Yadah Stars FC during this international break. That’s the truth and painful reality.
The nation has an interim coach, interim team manager, interim lodging facilities, interim feeding scheme and has been having interim preparation for the crucial CAF match. Practically everything is being run on an ad hoc status. And it wouldn’t be insane to expect the boys to give us interim performance come Sunday.
The nation requires competitive preparation to test the systems against serious nations or teams. Having spurring matches against upstarts like Yadah Stars is a football insult.
Am sure with the break Zifa could have asked one the coach/coaches in the country to probably make team comprising of Harare based players not called to camp to make Zimbabwe B team and give formidable training to the A team. Who knows they could give their best to make a statement for inclusion in final team.
Not testing Yadah Stars inabilities.
Better still they could have engaged in form teams like Ngezi Platinum, Black Rhinos or giants Dembare. The options are awash. But because someone can’t crush the box and apply their minds, they subject our boys to mediocre preparations and expect five star results.
Without tangeable test the teams ability Zimbabwe take on Liberia this Sunday is highly compromised and questionable. We leave things to chance.
P/a
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