Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere [email protected]
ZIMBABWE football legend Madinda “Khathazile” Ndlovu has called for a return to merit-based national team selection, saying the Warriors can only fulfil their potential if places are earned through talent, discipline and consistency.
Speaking on the Diasbhora podcast, the former Warriors winger and coach said Zimbabwe has an abundance of talent, but success depends on selecting players on merit.
“The future is bright if we are going to do the right thing in terms of team selection,” said Ndlovu.
He argued that the standards which once defined Zimbabwean football have been diluted, making it easier for players to earn national team call-ups without consistently proving themselves.
“These days it’s easy for you to play in the national team, its all about who knows. It’s not a secret. Years back, national team call-ups were earned through pure talent and merit. Even at club level, we selected players on merit,” he said.
Ndlovu also stressed that discipline should remain a key selection criterion.
“When I was a coach, I used to tell my players that if you missed training for two days, you should consider yourself ineligible for selection,” he said.
His remarks come amid continued debate over the criteria used to select Warriors players, with many supporters calling for greater transparency.
Ndlovu believes Zimbabwe has enough quality to compete with Africa’s best, provided players earn the honour of wearing the national jersey through performance, professionalism and commitment.
-@FungaiMuderere
