POOR, PATHETIC PITCHES

Langton Nyakwenda

WARRIORS coach Michael Nees has been impressed by the quality of the home-based players but feels they are being limited from expressing their true potential because of the poor state of the pitches used in the Premiership.

The German coach will  get his first feel of the Harare Derby at Rufaro on Sunday.

Nees believes there are “about 15 to 20” home-based players who are good enough to play in the national team.

He has named just seven home-based players in a 24-man squad that will face Namibia in back-to-back AFCON qualifiers on October 9 and 14.

The German says the door is always open for more players based in Zimbabwe.

The Dynamos duo of Martin Mapisa and Emmanuel Jalai, Godknows Murwira (CAPS United), Brian Banda (FC Platinum), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Khama Billiat (Yadah) and Walter Musona (Simba Bhora) make up the local contingent.

“You must always see things from different angles. What a player shows and what he could show in a different environment, with better conditions, or maybe, in a selected team.

“That is the difference, but you know that local clubs play on difficult pitches.

“We have very good players locally, they are high up there in terms of ball control and technique.

“Their only disadvantage is that they play on pitches that are not up to international standards.

“The players have skill and ability but sometimes they don’t want to play from the back because they fear they might lose the ball.

“It also has to do with the bumpy pitches which prohibit build-ups.”

But, the German is convinced there is massive potential in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League.

“We already had local players in our last camp, there are still a few more to be added as we move.

“I had a list of players even before I came here, when I researched about the names and all the other things.

“I really think you have 15 to 20 local players who have the potential to be in a national team set-up.

“But, of course, that depends on the position, it also depends on the fitness.”