Their own Warriors, or is it “Worry-us”, have, as is tradition, failed to make it to the biennial continental soccer showpiece, after the collapsed like a deck of cards in Luanda last Sunday.
Angola scored twice within two minutes to cancel the Warriors’ seemingly healthy 3-1 first leg win to make their easy passage to South Africa 2013, while Zimbabwe wept at the missing Nyasha Mushekwis, Washington Arubis, Tapuwa Kapinis, Ovidy Karurus and Thomas Sweswes of the local game.
“If this had not been that, things would have not gone this way” became the main talking line beginning Monday. As we reported soon after the 3-1 win, Zimbabwe can lead 10-0 going into a decisive away fixture, but with ZIFA at the helm, you cannot be assured that they will make it until they have really made it.
The mother body has since time immemorial, been on record for making bad decisions at bad times. Those decisions have always cost us. We missed out of Angola 2012 when two coaches with equal power were tasked with leading the team. The result was the same as in this campaign – tragic. Flash back to the 2010 Afcon and a coaching disaster called Jose Valinhos was thrust into the hot seat to coach, eventually seeing the national team to an embarrassing 4-2 defeat to Namibia.
Following the most recent tragedy, most fans poured scorn on the mother body for suspending players that would have won the game, or at least preserved the advantage away in Angola. They also poured scorn on “arrogant” coach, Rahman Gumbo, for leaving playmaker Ovidy Karuru out of the team.
If Kapini had not been injured, he would have guarded the posts, but because he was, Arubi could have been a better replacement, yet he is suspended by ZIFA. In the end, an inexperienced Ariel Sibanda was tasked with preventing the goals.
Defensive midfielder, Lionnel Mtizwa is flying high with Pretoria University, but Gumbo could not have him because he, like striker Mushekwi and defenders Jimmy Jambo and Thomas Sweswe are still suspended. Even those cleared at the last minute did not have as much impact in the team as they would have had they been cleared weeks, or even months back.
The fans speak:
“Another circus in Zimbabwe; those entrusted with the responsibility of the team have failed. The nation cannot support the team in unison and before kick-off everyone was either attacking the coach for his selection. Why would administrators call back players that were implicated in scandals so fast? Even if they were just allegations, they should not have been cleared so fast,” Botswana-based journalist, Andrew Maramwidze.
“The whole ZIFA leadership must be changed. We need to implement what our neighbours Zambia have done – bring back people like Bruce Grobbelar, Henry Mckop, Madinda, Adam and Peter Ndlovu to take over the running of football and the ZIFA board. We also need to make sure that they hire a coach who will select players on merit, not on tribal lines, otherwise we are bound to sink deeper even deeper,” Lovemore Sibanda.
“ZIFA must stick with the current technical department, regroup and focus on the 2014 World cup qualifiers. Chopping and changing coaches breaks the momentum and disrupts the team’s rhythm. Give them time to lay a solid foundation before entertaining stories of sacking them. Changing coaches is a proven recipe for failure,” Vusumuzi Ndlovu.
“The technical team should do the noble thing and just resign. We now need to cast our nets wider and rope in more youngsters, who will form the core of the team from now onwards,” Gerald Tichatonga Rubaya.
“Government must pour in a lot of money that will motivate players for success and all things will be fine,” Thembani Khumalo.
Post published in: Football