Vusumuzi Dube
Innocent Kurira, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE search for a new Warriors coach has reached its final lap, but the real conversation stretches far beyond who gets the job.
It’s about how Zimbabwe chooses its football leaders and whether the method itself keeps setting the national team up to fail.
This week, the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) is expected to unveil the next man in charge of the Warriors.
Irish coach Chris Hughton is said to be the frontrunner, edging ahead of other big names like Pitso Mosimane, Stuart Baxter and Kaitano Tembo. Yet as anticipation builds, many within the local football fraternity are questioning the wisdom of a public application process when what the team may need is a more deliberate, strategic head hunt.
Former Mighty Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi believes ZIFA should have gone after the right coach instead of waiting for candidates to come knocking. He argues that the association’s approach risks picking a name that looks good on paper but doesn’t fit the country’s football DNA.
“For me it’s better to head hunt a coach instead of going the applications route. Head hunting allows you to choose a coach who fits into the philosophy of the national team and the projects that are in place. When people apply they might impress with CVs but they don’t identify with the vision and goals you have with the association, which becomes a challenge,” said Mlauzi.
He is also worried that the timing leaves the incoming coach with little chance to build anything meaningful before the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in December. The Warriors are due to face Algeria on November 13 and Qatar four days later in Saudi Arabia, matches that double as the new coach’s baptism of fire.
“Overall, it would have been better had the recruitment been done in good time. It’s always difficult, there are disadvantages when you have to plan quick solutions, but that’s often the case with national teams. You have to make things work in the shortest possible time. Even for matches, you have very little time, at most, perhaps just a week with the players.
“It’s really a difficult situation given the limited time available to the coach. Understanding his style will come at a cost. There’s a need for team cohesion. Perhaps the coach will bring in some of his own players for the tournament. The coach has very little time to work his magic,” said Mlauzi.
His warning is echoed by football administrator Marshall Gore, who argues that planning and vision should guide every major football decision, especially one as crucial as appointing a national team coach.
“Headhunting works best, the right approach is to identify the best person who fits your vision and talk to them directly not just read about them. Always plan before you act. In football, the best practice is to find a replacement before firing the incumbent. It avoids chaos, media drama, and keeps the team focused.
“This is not a criticism of my colleagues in the Zifa Board, my analysis and recommendations simply offer an alternative perspective on how we can strengthen our approach. That said, I truly hope the current application process attracts the right coach who aligns with our national football ambitions,” Gore wrote on Facebook.
More than 300 coaches reportedly applied for the Warriors post after ZIFA opened applications earlier this month. The volume reflects both Zimbabwe’s enduring football appeal and the high demand for national team jobs. But it also highlights the challenge of filtering through so many CVs in time to make a thoughtful appointment.
Hughton, if confirmed, would bring credibility and a wealth of experience. A former Republic of Ireland international, the 66-year-old managed several English Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur,
Newcastle United, Norwich City and Brighton & Hove Albion. He also led Ghana for two years before parting ways in January 2024 after a tough Afcon campaign.
For a country desperate for stability and direction, Hughton’s pedigree could be reassuring. But as many have pointed out, even the most qualified coach can fail if the system doesn’t support him or if he’s handed the job without enough time to shape the team.
Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi says the process is nearly done and that fans won’t have to wait much longer
“The process of appointing a coach is at an advanced stage. I think by Monday or Tuesday next week, we should be in a position to make an announcement,” Magwizi said last week.
Whoever takes the hot seat will have to hit the ground running. The Warriors have gone through too many false dawns, promising appointments that fizzled under the weight of disorganisation and politics.
This time, supporters want more than another name on a contract. They want a plan, a vision and a coach who feels like an extension of Zimbabwean football’s heartbeat, not a stopgap solution.
Because in the end, it’s not just about finding a coach. It’s about fixing a system that keeps forcing the Warriors to start over every few years and hoping, somehow, that this time will be different.
Online Reporter