mckop back in fold

One of the Zimbabwean coaches in the PSL, Pernell McKop, has been handed a key position in the Zimbabwe Warrior’s new-look technical team.

Zimbabwe recently appointed German, Michael Nees as the new head coach on a two-year contract having been operating without a substantive coach. The 57-year-old German coach has also added McKop to his technical team as the goalkeeper coach. McKop is currently the goalkeeper’s coach at Stellenbosch FC. He played for Zimbabwe Saints in Zimbabwe.

Nees, who spent some time in South Africa between 2008 and 2009, has not hidden his admiration for how the football business has been handled locally. McKop’s appointment was revealed on Monday when Nees named his squad for the upcoming 2025 Afcon qualifiers.

Zimbabwe are in Group J alongside Kenya, Cameroon and Kenya. They are set to take on Kenya on September 4 in Uganda. Due to the lack of CAF-approved stadiums in Zimbabwe, the Warriors will play host to Cameroon in Uganda on September 10.

Meanwhile, three South Africa based PSL players have been drafted into the team as Washington Arubi makes his return to do duty for Zimbabwe.

Arubi recently traced his footsteps back to Marumo Gallants after playing second fiddle to Ricardo Goss at SuperSport United.

New Gallants forward, Daniel Msendami and Polokwane City FC’s Douglas Mapfumo are the other two players.
Former SuperSport United striker, Prince Dube also returns to the team, having been overlooked in recent times.

Dube is now playing for Tanzanian giants, Young Africans. The usually reliable left-back, Divine Lunga has been overlooked.

Meanwhile, this is not the first time McKop is working with “The Warriors”. During the 2024 Cosafa Cup, McKop was in the Zimbabwe camp, training their team’s goalkeepers.

Mckop also played for the Zimbabwe national team at both junior and senior levels as a goalkeeper. He was involved in the coaching of some of Zimbabwe’s best goalkeepers during the country’s Dream Team era. — (farpost.co.za)