The future is bright, says Nees

Langton Nyakwenda

WARRIORS coach, Michael Nees, believes Zimbabwe has the potential to become a continental powerhouse and is banking on the new Zifa leadership led by Nqobile Magwizi.

Nees has already started preparing for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Nigeria.

Zimbabwe have never qualified for the global football showpiece since attaining Independence in 1980. The German expatriate also has one eye on the Africa Cup of Nations finals, which kick off on December 21, in Morocco.

Zimbabwe will make their sixth appearance at the biannual football festival but they have failed to go past the group stage since making their debut in 2004.

“If you ask me, did Zimbabwe football really exploit its full potential, I would say I don’t think so,” says Nees.

The gaffer thinks Zimbabwe’s greatest undoing has been a lack of consistency and continuity.

“When you look at the coaching personnel, I think you have in a little more than 20 years changed coaches, something like almost 20 times. Was there continuity, of course not. To develop, you need continuity. That’s for sure. We have a lot of exciting players local and foreign based. Some very good players in the diaspora.

“They are just about to break into top-level football. Some are in between. So, this will be a long-term process as we also try to manage their development,” he said. Nees has met new Zifa president Magwizi and is convinced the respected businessman will turn things around.

“I think Zimbabwean football will move in the right direction, I want to be honest on that.
“The way we qualified for the Afcon finals without a home ground proved our resilience as a country,” said Nees.

“So, I think this a new chapter for Zimbabwe football. I’m looking forward with excitement and positivity.
“I think everybody should do that.

“The new leadership has four years, and it’s easier for them to make long-term plans and approach sponsors.

“Normally, I don’t want to talk about elections but the fact that almost 60 people contested in the Zifa elections shows you there was a lot of enthusiasm.”
He added: “People who contested must have a big passion for football otherwise they wouldn’t have contested and this is a strong plus for Zimbabwe, believe me.

“There are countries where you don’t have many people willing to serve because it means a lot of work.

“So, I’m very confident there will be a positive approach and I am sure the new board will develop football.”

Nees was appointed by the Normalisation Committee in August last year.
The NC’s tenure officially ended on January 31.

“The transition committee brought me in and I want to thank them. We did well in the Afcon qualifiers in a limited space of time.

“The new Zifa leadership can now build on that, but there will be a lot of work to be done.”