Online Reporter
Langton Nyakwenda, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Newcastle United and Ghana coach Chris Hughton is among more than 200 applicants vying for the Warriors job, as Zimbabwe’s national team post attracts widespread international interest. The 66-year-old Englishman, who also managed Brighton and Nottingham Forest, headlines a long list of high-profile coaches keen to lead Zimbabwe at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in December.
Sources within Zifa have revealed that the pool of applicants includes notable names such as former Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp, ex-Warriors goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar, and Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet. The position became vacant following the dismissal of German coach Michael Nees, who was sacked after a poor run in the World Cup qualifiers. Despite guiding Zimbabwe to next month’s Afcon finals in Morocco, Nees failed to secure a single win in the qualifiers, with the team finishing bottom of Group C and enduring a goal drought that stretched across four matches.
With the application deadline having closed yesterday, Zifa’s Technical and Executive Committees will now begin reviewing the submissions to compile a shortlist for interviews. Despite stringent requirements, the response has been overwhelming. Only coaches holding a Caf Pro or Uefa Pro Licence and with at least five years’ experience managing national teams in Africa were eligible to apply.
Zifa issued a statement noting that the standards set for the role are high, but the Warriors remain an attractive brand despite recent setbacks. The association highlighted the presence of a strong pool of mature players, offering an ambitious coach the chance to achieve something significant. Among Zimbabwe’s top-level internationals are Wolves duo Marshall Munetsi and Tawanda Chirewa, left-back Jordan Zemura of Serie A side Udinese, Munashe Garan’anga who features in the Uefa Champions League with Copenhagen, and Teenage Hadebe, who recently faced Lionel Messi in the MLS.
Zimbabwe’s participation in the Afcon finals presents another opportunity to make a statement on the continental stage. Zifa expressed optimism about the global interest in the role and the positive image the association now carries under the leadership of Nqobile Magwizi. A former Warriors player, speaking anonymously, said the influx of applications reflects renewed global attention on Zimbabwean football and the growing appeal of the national team job.
The incoming Warriors coach will immediately begin preparations for international friendlies against Algeria and Qatar during the November window, before leading the team into the Afcon finals. Zimbabwe has been drawn into a challenging group alongside Egypt, Angola, and South Africa, as they aim to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time since their tournament debut in Tunisia in 2004.
