Pagels speaks on selection

The German coach believes that winning the tie against Egypt in Alexandria should be a bonus, rather than the short-term goal, for a team he has just started on a journey he believes will ultimately be a success story.
Pagels says he cannot understand why the nation has, all of a sudden, been gripped with winning Group G of the African Zone 2014 World Cup qualifiers when the Warriors just picked one out of six points from their first two matches.

With Egypt winning their first two matches, to take maximum points, it meant that the Warriors’ fate was no longer in their hands and Pagels can’t understand how some fans suddenly want to see the team at the top of the table.
The 10 group winners, after the completion of the first phase on September 6 this year, would be drawn into five home and away ties with the winners of those matches advancing to the finals in Brazil.

And Zimbabwe, together with Mozambique, are tied on one point while record African champions, Egypt, are on top with six points and Guinea have three points.
Zimbabwe, featured in the opening two matches last year in June, then under the guidance of Rahman Gumbo and lost 0-1 to Guinea at home before forcing a 1-1 draw against Mozambique in Maputo.

Pagels, who has frozen the national team careers for a number of veteran players who have featured in the previous campaign, has faced a barrage of criticism over the selection of youthful players ahead of the tie in North African country.
But yesterday, the gaffer, came out with guns blazing and said when he came into office he outlined his vision and everyone embraced it, from the media right down to the fans, but all of a sudden there was a buzz about his selection for his first competive assignment.

“I cannot understand where all this is coming from, some people are already saying that the team cannot win in Egypt because so and so players are not in the team and that you cannot travel to Egypt with young players and expect to win anything,” said Pagels.
“But the same players that are now being talked of are the same players that were hammered when Zimbabwe failed to qualify for Africa Cup of Nations and really l cannot understand.
“A win in Egypt would be a bonus. l want to win but l would be more happy seeing my team playing better than they did against Botswana in that match.

“We had our selection before the Botswana match and those players are now going to have their first test. The door is still open to everyone but l will not change the selection of players every match but we must give all the players time to improve.
“The main target is to rebuild the team for the future and that should start with qualifying for the 2015 African Cup of Nations. I am really happy that the players have showed great engagement, they were eager to adapt to my style of football and did well in a short space of time.

“Now we can start to improve our defence and come up with better scoring chances. I think with time they will bring out the flair in my style because all the players l have selected are not having problems in playing passing football.”
The German coach said there was need for people to support the national team and rally behind the Warriors rather than spend time arguing about players who were not in the side that will play in Egypt.

“They have to be patient with the players and not bring pressure to the players as most of these players are young and need support from the people,” said Pagels.
“But all this doesn’t bother me as l have my opinion and as the technical team we have the direction which we believe we should follow.
“There are 13 million people in Zimbabwe and it means 13 million national team coaches and 13 million views and l think it is only normal to have this outcry, even though we would want the people to support us all the way.”

The Warriors, who would be camping in Egypt for five days, and are scheduled to leave next Wednesday, are also hoping to watch the Pharaohs in action against Swaziland on their arrival day.
“We will arrive on the same day Egypt play Swaziland and we should have an opportunity to see them in action,” said Pagels.
“Our travel itinerary should leave us with all the five days to train as the European-based players will just fly directly to Cairo and we got to Alexandria.

“It is easier for European players, they will only have about four-hours flight and use all the days in training instead of travelling to Africa first and then to Cairo as a team.
“I think there is a good chance to come out with a good result, but never will l promise a result, but we will do our best.
“l trust the boys, they are Zimbabweans and have this fighting spirit in them but we have to think about our own strength and not worry about our opponent.”