Chronicle Editor
Langton Nyakwenda
WARRIORS coach, Michael Nees has opened up on his bust up with England-based forward Tawanda Chirewa with the German exhibiting a father figure in handling his players’ emotions.
The 57-year-old coach says he has not come into the Warriors dressing room as a dictator but as a gaffer who understands that players are not robots but human beings with feelings and emotions.
This comes after Chirewa, who plies his trade with English championship side Derby County strayed from the disciplinary line when expressing his displeasure at being substituted during Zimbabwe’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya, in Uganda last month.
It was the first time that Nees who was unveiled as Zimbabwe coach on August 22, was taking charge of the Warriors.
He also later presided over the Warriors other Group J qualifier against Cameroon.
Both games, which were played at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala in September, ended goalless, but the one against the Harambee Stars was not without incident as there was a fallout between Nees and emerging star Chirewa.
The 20-year-old was not happy with the coach’s decision to substitute him in the 58th minute, despite a below-par showing.
So mad was Chirewa that he even refused to speak to the media on the eve of the next game against Cameroon.
Chirewa did not start against the Indomitable Lions and only came on as an 86th minute replacement for Walter Musona.
It was evident Chirewa was reluctant to come on, as assistant coach Takesure Chiragwi kept on persuading him to warm up.
Breaking his silence on the saga, Nees insisted the issue was now water under the bridge and expects to see an inspired Chirewa when Zimbabwe resume their Nations Cup qualification campaign with back to clashes against Namibia at Orlando stadium in Johannesburg on October 10 and 14.
The Warriors bid for a place at the 2025 Afcon tourney on Morocco.
Both matches will be staged at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.
“(What happened) is a normal thing in football, although It’s not a good thing.
“There are no ill-feelings from my side and the boy mustn’t be worried about being punished whatsoever.
“I am not a dictator,” Nees told Zimpapers Sports Hub.
“There will always be hiccups in team development.
“The only thing is that this cannot happen always and the players need to understand why it should not happen.
“The good thing is that he (Chirewa) apologised two times, what else must he do now?
“That’s more than enough, it’s now over.”
The coach feels the incident could work in favour of Chirewa, whom he expects to be refreshed and eager to prove a point when the Warriors face Namibia.
“He was angry because he was substituted, he was very angry with himself maybe.
“And everybody expresses emotions in a different way, but that is over.”
Online Reporter