dyton mupawaenda
Curtworth Masango
CELEBRATED former Warriors midfield magician Ronald “Gidiza” Sibanda believes continuation is the key to success in national teams.
He condemned changing players each time the team plays citing unending rebuilding.
Gidiza is one of the best midfielders in the history of Zimbabwean football.
On Monday, new Warriors coach Michael Nees, unveiled his team, composed of 23 players, mostly foreign-based professionals.
Nees’ appointment came ahead of a crucial opening round of 2025 AFCON Qualifiers against Kenya and Cameroon in Uganda on September 6 and 10. Several changes have been made to the team that did the job at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Lesotho and South Africa under the guidance of interim coach Jairos Tapera.
A total of seven players, who were in the initial 23-man, squad have been dropped.
Martin Mapisa and Geoffrey Chitsumba were dropped in goal bringing in veteran Washington Arubi and Marley Tavaziwa.
In defence Shane Maroodza and Devine Lunga were dropped while Dynamos roving right back Emmanuel Jalai was romped in.
In midfield, Joey Puthi and Tivonge Rushesha were dropped while Brian Banda and Richard Hachiro are part of the squad.
Forward Tymon Machope is the only player who has been dropped while Obriel Chirinda and Prince Dube have been called in.
“Look at the Fabisch team, there were no wholesale changes. If Vitalis (Takawira) started, maybe Adam (Ndlovu) would be on the bench. In our days only a few changes were made,” said Gidiza.
“But now if we say we have a team on Wednesday, come Sunday there will be seven changes, and the next game 12 changes.”
Gidiza feels the involvement of player agents might have hurt the stability of the Warriors’ setup.
“To be honest you cannot make a team that way, those changes are too much. I don’t know if it is an issue of agents who influence the selection of teams. I don’t want to judge but I think we are changing too much.
However, at his unveiling last week, Nees vowed he will not bow down to the undue influence of cartels that may seek to manipulate his selection of the Zimbabwe senior soccer team, insisting that meritocracy will be the key.
“It’s a fact that players have representatives or agents, but they don’t make selections.
“You have to select the best possible team for your upcoming challenges, and I have had no problems with them. I think we made it crystal clear to them always that there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed.
“A player must perform on the pitch, he must show us he is able, he must show the team he commits the team,” he said.
Online Reporter