Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER CAPS United and Young Warriors defender Darlington Choto, now based in Canada, says Zifa made a mistake by overlooking local legends for the Warriors coaching job.
Instead, the association last week confirmed Romanian Marian “Mario” Marinica as head coach, replacing Michael Nees, whose brief spell produced only two wins, against lowly Namibia, alongside seven defeats and as many draws.
Choto questioned the logic behind hiring a coach who previously failed to make an impact in Liberia and Malawi, saying Zimbabwe has enough qualified former players who understand the country’s football culture and realities.
“As a former footballer, I am really shocked and surprised with how Zifa appointed someone who failed Liberia and Malawi unless he was appointed for other reasons than football,” said Choto. “The whole Zimbabwe football fraternity is surprised and cannot come to terms with mediocre soccer coach appointments. We are not serious; maybe we need people in those offices who truly know and care about the sport.”
Choto, who played for CAPS United and the Young Warriors between the early 1980s and 1988, said Zifa should have considered former Warriors stars Benjani Mwaruwari, Kaitano Tembo and Bruce Grobbelaar for the top post, with Peter Ndlovu as team manager.
Zifa instead named Mwaruwari, Ndlovu and Grobbelaar as football ambassadors, while Tembo was appointed assistant to Marinica.
Choto described the Romanian’s appointment as “probably the worst since John Madzima’s era in 1980,” adding that it’s difficult to reconcile Marinica’s underwhelming African record with his claimed experience at English giants Tottenham and Liverpool.
He urged Zifa to be more deliberate in future national team appointments.
“Zifa should be thorough so that a coach with a watertight resume is engaged,” he said.
Choto also questioned why former Warriors greats were relegated to ambassadorial roles instead of technical positions where their experience could truly benefit the national team.
“With Benjani, Peter and Bruce, we have people who’ve seen it all. They would have been of real use to the nation,” he said.
He remains optimistic, though, that the current Zifa leadership, led by Nqobile Magwizi, can grow into capable administrators if they emulate past stalwarts such as Trevor Carelse-Juul, the late John Madzima, Nelson Chirwa, Ndumiso Gumede and Brian Harry.
Choto pointed out that Zimbabwean coaches like Charles Mhlauri, Callisto Pasuwa, Sunday Chidzambwa and Joey Antipas proved locals can deliver, having guided the Warriors to Chan and Afcon tournaments, something foreign coaches have largely failed to do since the days of Ben Koufie and Reinhard Fabisch.
“I just hope the current board learns fast and delivers on the football community’s expectations,” he added.
