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Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS coach Ian Gorowa’s good work at the African Nations Championships finals has been praised by world football governing body Fifa.
Gorowa took over from German national Klaus Dieter Pagels and led the Warriors to the semi-finals of the CHAN finals.
Zimbabwe lost to Nigeria in the third-play off and the Warriors stormed into the world top 100 football playing nations on the Fifa ratings.
Yesterday, Fifa acknowledged the progress made by the Warriors under Gorowa as they devoted a section of their official website to Zimbabwe.
“When Klaus Dieter Pagels left his post as coach of the Zimbabwe national team last summer, the Zimbabwe Football Association turned to former international player Ian Gorowa to take over, and since his appointment in July 2013, the 42-year-old has managed to take the Warriors back to winning ways.
“Their results have seen them climb in the Fifa Coca Cola World Football Ranking five spots in the latest table to 100th in the world and 27th in Africa — their highest position since November 2012,” Fifa said.
Fifa said Zimbabwe’s progress was noted at the CHAN tournament where a number of Warriors players attracted the interest of South African clubs.
Already Simba Sithole of How Mine has joined Ajax Cape Town while Kuda Mahachi will be at Mamelodi Sundowns in June. SuperSport are tracking goalkeeper George Chigova and Orlando Pirates are keen on Warriors skipper Patson Jaure.
Zimbabwe drew their opening two group matches against Morocco and Uganda then beat Burkina Faso to advance to the quarter-finals.
They won 2-1 against Mali before being beaten in a penalty shoot-out by Libya in the semi-finals.
Last week, Zifa vice president Ndumiso Gumede told the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education, Sport, Arts and Culture that his board was going to offer Gorowa a contract by the end of this month.
Gorowa told Fifa that he was happy to notice an improvement in the team but said there was room to do more.
“We said we want to put Zimbabwean football back to where it belongs because I think there have been a lot of problems within Zimbabwean football,” said Gorowa.
“So we just said let us now try to resuscitate and revitalise Zimbabwean football.
“That is my idea and my philosophy. I told the players that as a country we can now go back to those old days where Zimbabwean football was really something to talk about.
“Since I took over, the team has lost just one competitive game (in open play). That was against Nigeria in the CHAN play-off for third place. It was only a penalty shoot-out that denied us a place in the final.”
The former Black Rhinos and Dynamos winger said the Warriors needed to change their mental approach.
“Obviously, it is a lack of experience in such games.I think one thing we probably need to install in the players is the belief that they can compete with anybody on the continent.
“I think the group of players which we now have, have that belief. I think the belief is now there that they can play and win against anybody,” he added.
Gorowa also took a dig at the football administrators, whom he said lacked professionalism to run the game.
“The mindset of the people who are running the sport within our country also has to change. They have to think big.
“It is one thing to say there is no money but then there is no professionalism.
“We know there is no money, but I think whatever approach you have, it has to be professional. One thing we need to do is to create a professional atmosphere, regardless of the resources that are available,” said Gorowa.
He is confident that the progress showed at CHAN will help strengthen football in the country.
“I think it is very, very important that people now support the national team. Slowly, when the results are coming, everybody will start getting interested.
And as we have done that, the interest is growing, “ Gorowa said.
Online Reporter