‘Warriors could have done more’

Gibson Homela
NOW that the CHAN tournament has come and gone, it is time to make a comprehensive analysis of the national team that participated in that tournament. Let me remind Zimbabweans that as a nation, we are a member of Fifa and our mission is to compete and win games.I was, therefore, surprised to see the local football fraternity celebrating failure.
Defensive tactical strategies
Strategies will systematically arrange the movement of players defensively and offensively.
Defensively we combined collectively, efficiently, effectively and cohesively.
Our defence system organisation was based on a combination of zonal marking, man-to-man marking or mixed marking which ever was suitable.
The defensive lines were resolute.

PRESSING
In the offensive third, attackers were able to pressure as soon as ball possession was lost in the zone.
The attackers turned defenders, with initial challenges, pressurising and containing, recovering back into their half quickly.
The middle third was characterised by a congested midfield with aggressive personnel determined to win the ball.
The team maintained numerical advantage defensively.
Defensive lines were always on side
In the defensive third, the team was compact and jealously guarded their goal.
The entire team had the zeal to win the ball.

Offensive tactical strategy
The transition from defence to attack was very poor.

DEFENCE
There was never a clear cut intention of defenders to move forward and attack, to create space, spreading out side to side, end to end.
We never played to a pattern with a rhythm
The counter attack plan was never put to use
The build-up attack was quickly broken by the opponents
The quick attack was rarely used
Flank defenders were supportive in attack

MIDFIELD
Midfield is the source of strength defensively and should be the source of strength offensively.
Our transition from defence to attack was an eyesore
We were found wanting in possession pattern play with shot, long or diagonal passes with change of pace and tempo into areas of penetration
Central defenders did not run balls to central or flank positions to penetrate the opposition
No quick counter attacks

ATTACK
Strikers were poor in the occupation and exploitation of space in flanks and central positions.
There was little distinction between the free role or the lead role.
They lacked the ability to receive the ball under pressure and closely marked.
Gibson Homela is a former coach of the Warriors , a Caf and fifa instructor and a member of Zifa’s High-Performance Committee.