Following the Angola debacle, which saw the team bow out of the 2013 Afcon finals, Ndlovu said authorities should give current coaches enough time to rebuild for the future.
“The problem is that coaches are seldom given enough time and after every tournament, there are new coaches. I think we did not have enough time with the team. We need time to build a team for the next Nations Cup,” said the former striker, who skippered Zimbabwe to its maiden Afcon in 2004.
The next Afcon will be held in 2015, but Ndlovu and his national team coaching senior, Rahman Gumbo, have a place in the 2014 World Cup finals to fight for before then.
The former Highlanders and Coventry City winger said mathematically Zimbabwe were still in the running for a place for the Brazil finals, despite the odds against them, following a poor first run after a 0-1 loss to Guinea and a disappointing 0-0 away draw with Mozambique.
The Warriors will play two games against fallen African giants, Egypt, Mozambique at home and Guinea away. The Gumbo-led team currently lies third in Group G with one point, just like Mozambique, while the Pharaohs lead the standings with six points – three ahead of Guinea.
Ndlovu who is also the Zimbabwe Under-23 coach, said although the focus is on youth, he would if given the chance, also pick senior players depending on their club form. “As a coach, I do not look at age. I believe if a player is playing well for his club, then there is a reason to call him to play for the national team. Age does not matter, but form.”
Post published in: Football