JOHANNESBURG Zimbabwes senior soccer team continues to tumble on the FIFA/Coca Cola world rankings. According to the latest rankings released by the world soccer governing body last Wednesday the Warriors fell 15 places down the ladder and are now ranked a lowly 116 on the 203-team log.Zimbabwe is ranked lower than the so-called lightweights of African football Namibia, the Comoros Islands and Rwanda among others. The Warriors, as the team is affectionately known by millions of its passionate followers, are 1 380 points behind Brazil, the worlds highest ranked team.
Zimbabwes fall in the rankings is largely a result of inactivity since the beginning of the year, following their failure to qualify for the African Cup of Nations finals scheduled for Angola in 2010 and the World Cup in South Africa also in the same year.
The setback cost head coach Valinhos his job. Zimbabwes football standards have fallen behind over the years in a development that mirrors the decade-long economic crisis in the country.
The debilitating economic setback has seen football administrators fail to provide the national team with necessary playing gear and proper training infrastructure. Talented youth have also fled the country to seek economic refuge in neighbouring countries, thereby starving the national team of a supply of players.
Meanwhile, Brazil rose to the top of the FIFA standings because of their strong performance in the just-ended Confederations Cup in South Africa. The South Americans were impressive throughout the tournament which ended with the former World champions beating a determined United States side 3-2 in the final to retain the trophy they won on German soil in 2005.
Post published in: Football