It would be a tragedy to forsake this generation

Off the ball with Limukan Ncube
THERE was a time when the senior national team had begun to entice everybody to rally behind it, and that was the time when Norman Mapeza was in charge. The former Warriors defender was of course, not the messiah of our football, but at least, he had managed to get the Warriors to start playing for him, dying on the pitch for him and in the long run, producing results the nation badly wanted.

We have never qualified for the World Cup finals but that does not mean that we have to stop trying, and we have not qualified for the African Cup of Nations finals since the 2004 and 2006 tournaments, but that does not mean that we have to stop trying. But now you get a feeling that we want to stop trying.

A couple of years ago, Mapeza had laid the foundation, and Rahman Gumbo took the button and we were close to the Afcon finals held in South Africa, losing to Angola in the return leg of the decisive round of qualifiers but at least, we had players who had managed to rally the nation behind them.

The Warriors project seemed to hit turbulent waters after Mapeza was suspended from football over Asiagate matters, and then after failing to make it to the 2012 and 2013 Afcon finals, the Warriors were disbanded, and Zifa told the nation that they were embarking on a rebuilding exercise.

From afar, it looks a good idea to rebuild, go back to the drawing and use youngsters who are hungry to succeed. Yes, it sounds nice even when you address the media saying that you sound reasonable, and you can even back the point by saying the seniors have failed to deliver and they have to pave way for youngsters.

But are we saying that it is a good idea to throw talent in the form of Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat, Willard Katsande, Washington Arubi, Denver Mukamba, Cuthbert Malajila, Silas Songani, Edward Sadomba, Ali Sadiki and Tendai Ndoro into the dust bin simply because we are rebuilding?

That is a fine generation of footballers with potential to take the nation somewhere, and the option for Zifa would be to blend youth with experience, and come up with a team that will surely carry the nation’s hopes.

After the draw for the qualifiers of the 2017 Afcon qualifiers was released, with Zimbabwe grouped with Guinea, Swaziland and Malawi with the top team going through to the finals, Zifa communications officer Xolisani Gwesela said they would stick to the Under-23 national team.

His sentiments have already been met with disdain, with even the Minister of Sports, Andrew Langa, calling the association to order and telling them to field a strong team for the qualifiers.

PSL Chief Executive, Kenny Ndebele, is on record as saying the senior team should be made up of the best players available, regardless of age, and that makes business sense.

Ndebele urged Zifa to change their policy, saying it made the national team unattractive to sponsors. And true, apart from standing a better chance against some strong opponents and harsh conditions in the jungles of African football, seniors players also have the capacity to attract sponsors.

“We have good footballers as a country but we have decided to alienate them because of age yet they have the capability of making the nation proud. We have a lot of players in the South African Premiership, one of the top leagues in Africa but we are shutting them out.

“We simply decided to focus on the Under-23s without having a programme that groomed the players from a young age and think we can succeed, I doubt it will work.

“The senior national team is supposed to be our pride but if we don’t have the senior men’s team how are we going to attract funding. Once we have big names in the national team companies will obviously want to associate with the Warriors because chances of success will be higher,” said Ndebele.

The qualifiers are starting on June 12 with Zimbabwe away to Malawi, followed by a home match against Guinea on the weekend of 4-6 September, before playing Swaziland home and away in March next year and hosing Malawi in June and rounding up with an away tie to Guinea in September. The senior team’s coach has not been named after the departure of Ian Gorowa, but pointers are that Under-23 coach, Callisto Pasuwa will take charge, going a rung up with his band of Young Warriors.

It appears a gamble that Zifa are prepared to take. Zifa spokesperson Gwesela said the decision to use the Under-23s was made by the Zifa board and it was only the board that could change that policy.

He said when the board made that decision, they felt it was a part of a rebuilding exercise following the Zimbabwe Warriors’ dismal showing in the qualifiers for the 2015 African Cup of Nations.

“That is why when coaches were announced last year we did not name those for the national senior team because it was disbanded and the board decided we go to the grassroots and develop talent from there. It is the board that will decide on whether we revert to the Warriors or we continue using the Young Warriors,” he said.

Nonetheless, countries that have revamped their senior national teams have not used a “blanket ban” on senior players. They have instead blended experience with young talent, with senior players giving way to youngsters as they gain experience as well.

Even our neighbours, South Africa, who made a fairy tale run to the Afcon finals held early this year, did not use Under-23 players only after changing their Bafana Bafana side, instead, they used experienced players who had always been fringe players in the national team, and some were actually part of the previous playing squad.

What Zifa should know is that Zimbabweans want a strong squad to represent them come qualifiers of the Afcon 2017, and the squad certainly can not be stronger without some of the players mentioned above.