tawandamusarurwa
Online Reporter
A 44-year-old coach from Saudi Arabia with a UEFA Pro Licence is one of the notable foreign coaches who have applied for the vacant Warriors job.
Abdulhakeem Al-Tuwaijri – who is assistant manager at SK Slavia Prague – handed his curriculum vitae to the Normalisation Committee early this week.
He has proposed to rebuild Zimbabwe’s national team.
He is a former Saudi Arabia national team coach, and also had a stint with Al-Ettifaq, who are currently being coached by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.
FIFA lifted a 17-month suspension on Zimbabwe in July.
A Normalisation Committee, headed by former Dynamos chairperson Lincoln Mutasa, was subsequently appointed by FIFA.
It recently advertised the post of Warriors coach.
Among the key qualifications for the job is a Confederation of African Football (CAF) A or UEFA Pro Licence, as well as a knowledge of African football.
A source said the Normalisation Committee has begun vetting the applicants, including Herbert Maruwa, who was sacked at Dynamos on Tuesday morning.
Former Warriors keeper Bruce Grobbelaar is also among those tipped for the job.
But Saudi coach Al-Tuwaijri could attract a lot of interest given the football revolution in his country.
Saudi Arabian topflight clubs like Al Nassr, Al Hilal and Al Ettifaq are splashing cash on big-name European players.
Stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Jordan Henderson and Fabinho are now based in Saudi Arabia.
Al-Tuwaijri’s experience in high-level football, including the UEFA Champions League, might also aid his bid.
The next Warriors coach is expected to assemble a squad for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers set for September, before the national team gets down to World Cup business.
The 2026 World Cup qualifiers kick off in November.
Zimbabwe are in Group C alongside South Africa, Nigeria, Benin, Rwanda and Lesotho.
Bongani Ndlovu