‘I’ve got the power!’

NEW Warriors coach Michael Nees faces a challenge that has plagued many of his predecessors – delivering performances and results that meet the country’s high expectations.

Nees announced his first-ever Warriors squad on Monday, ahead of the AFCON 2025 Qualifiers against Kenya and Cameroon next week in Uganda. The selected players are expected to report for camp in Kampala on Sunday.

Nees’ first assignment with the Warriors will be on Friday when Zimbabwe face Kenya, followed by a match against Cameroon four days later.

Speaking on The Couch on ZTN Prime, the German gaffer demonstrated a clear understanding of local football. The coach addressed some key issues regarding the national team and his squad selection. Saturday Chronicle delves into some of the major talking points from the interview.

Hadebe Selection

Teenage Hadebe’s inclusion in the Warriors squad for the upcoming qualifiers has sparked debate, with some questioning his match fitness due to a period of inactivity while awaiting a move back to the States. Hadebe has been training with Highlanders, and Nees is confident in his importance to the team.

“Teenage Hadebe, when you look at the whole squad, I think he is the most capped player. He has played 40 times for the Warriors, showing loyalty and commitment over a long time. That is something you need to appreciate. You cannot compare him with someone who just started playing in the national team.

“I admit in the last month he could not ascend to the level he should have or could have. He knows that maybe it could have been the situation of being without a clear club. It could have affected him. He is not at 100%, but if we need to throw him into the fire, he will help us, I’m pretty sure. He said he wanted to come and help the team in all things, and that convinced me; yes, this player will be in the squad.”

Assessment of Local Football

The new coach has watched some local games and quickly identified that the playing surfaces are hindering teams from playing free-flowing football.

“What I saw is that the pitch conditions are difficult, which influences the type of football. The ball is not flowing like it does on a well-maintained pitch.

The modern way of play involves quick passes and short contact time on the ball, then releasing a player on the wings where he can go full power one-on-one, entering the box and delivering the ball. You saw that in the Euros with these youngsters from Spain and Germany.

This is the modern way of football. Under certain conditions, it becomes difficult when the ball bounces. When the pitch is bouncy, you have to slow down the game to control the ball naturally, and they do it well because maybe a German player could never play here; he would break his leg.

“So, they have very good coordination and ball control to get the ball under control, but the pace of the game suffers because nobody can play on that surface with the same speed. You can bring any player in the world. That I could fit straight away in the type of play that is a little bit different from football that is internationally demanded.

When we play in Uganda, the information I gathered is that the pitch is good unless it is damaged during training next week. So, that is something that I have observed. Good ball technique.”
Billiat’s return

Forward Khama Billiat announced his return from retirement this week, and Nees explained how he managed to convince the player to reconsider his decision.

“I wanted to know what the reason (for retiring) was. I wanted to understand if he still has the fire in himself to play. It’s understandable that a player in his mid-30s, with three children or two children, retires. But he will come back, which means he will be away for three to five days travelling from the family and the club. We must respect that; that’s why players sometimes retire.

“So, I wanted to find out if he wanted to come or if he was being pressured by someone else to come back, and I came to the conclusion he still has that wish and that fire to come back and give everything. I think that’s best. You cannot deny his football skills and talent, and if he still has the fire, I would say frankly, I would be a very unwise coach not to consider such a player.”

All power belongs to Nees

Zifa technical advisor Jethro Hunidzarira assured the nation that the association is not interfering in any way with the coach’s work.

“Right now, we have created the environment for him to choose his own players. We brought in the analyst to give him the statistics about the players and the coaches, so he is doing his own thing. For us, we are just creating an environment where he works without interference. The decisions that he makes are his,” said Hunidzarira.

Warriors Squad:

GOALKEEPERS:

Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Bernard Donovan
(Chicken Inn)

DEFENDERS:

Gerald Takwara (Al Minaa SC), Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Godknows Murwira (Caps United), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe

MIDFIELDERS:

Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims), Andy Rinomhota (CardiN City), Jordan Zemura (Udinese), Walter Musona (Simba Bhora), Daniel Msendami (Marumo Gallants), Brian Banda (FC Platinum), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum), Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers)

FORWARDS:

Tinotenda Kadewere (FC Nantes), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City), Prince Dube (Young Africans), Obriel Chirinda (Ngezi Platinum)

Technical team:

Michael Nees (Head Coach), Takesure Chiragwi (Assistant Coach), Pernell McKop (Goalkeepers Coach) Abraham Mbaiwa (Fitness Trainer), James Makoni (Performance Analyst), Nick Munyonga (Team Doctor), Steve Hungwe (Physiotherapist), Lennon Gwara (Masseur), Sharif Mussa (Team Manager)
-@innocentskizoe