adminresponded to that failure by disbanding the entire team, throwing the coaches out of their jobs and leaving the players facing an uncertain future in terms of their national team careers.
The former Aces Youth Academy player is one of the old faces in the new Warriors’ squad that turned up at Rufaro yesterday as Klaus Dieter-Pagels began assembling a senior national team.
Pagels has elected to start with a manageable crop of players whom he will assess during the international friendly against Botswana at Rufaro tomorrow afternoon before he can start planning for a tough World Cup battle against Egypt in Cairo.
The Zebras of Botswana were expected to arrive last night by road.
“I think it was disheartening for me that the national team had been disbanded and we had stopped playing soccer for the country,” said Billiat.
“You know how it is to play for your country. It’s a big achievement on the CV. But I am happy to see some of the new players and it will take our game to another level.”
Striker Knowledge Musona, Patson Jaure, Maxwell Nyamupandengu and Lincoln Zvasiya were part of the bloated squad that failed the test in Luanda under Rahman Gumbo but have been recalled by Pagels in his new set-up. Pagels has also picked the trio of Hardlife Zvirekwi, Nicholas Guyo and Silas Songani who are now hoping to earn their debut caps for the Warriors while Kaizer Chief’s Matthew Rusike is also in camp.
“Some individuals are brilliant players and we need to harness all those abilities that we have been missing all along,” said Billiat.
But the Ajax Cape Town winger is also aware of the high expectations from the nation.
“As a player, I have never been satisfied with my performance and I always want to do better.
“They could be some pressure in the game but I try my best to handle the situation,” said Billiat.
Billiat is also hoping to improve his game, especially with the arrival of Warriors assistant coach Ian Gorowa at his club.
“We are still working on it (his coming) and I am sure he will get our game to a higher level.
“He is a good coach and it’s also a good thing to work with different coaches because you learn different things,” said Billiat.
Pagels got a feel of the personnel at his disposal when he conducted his first training session for the senior national team at Rufaro in the morning before another workout in the afternoon. Quincy Antipas could not join camp after the Danish-based winger picked up an injury while the other Europe-based midfielder, Archie Gutu, is expected to join his team-mates today.
Former Dynamos striker Rodreck Mutuma is doubtful as he tries to settle at his new base at Bloemfontein Celtic. But the Germany coach believes he had a rather good start in his first official day with the boys on the field.
“I think the players did very well, they are very engaged in this short period time.
“When we had our session in the morning, I was really impressed. The players got my idea of playing football in one-two-three touches.
“And I hope they can bring it to the match on the day,” said Pagels.
Botswana were expected to arrive last night and Pagels is already confident of a positive start as he rebuilds a team for the future.
“Some of these guys could have played together at Under-17 and Under-20 levels but those were very few matches. Now I am here and have never seen this load of potential from talented players.
“In the morning, they needed just 30 minutes to get in their mind what I wanted,” said Pagels.
Pagels, who has earned a lot of respect from the way he has helped Zimbabwean football, said he had already pointed to the players on the new dawn of a new beginning for the Warriors.
“For this short preparation time, this was a good start and I think we had a meeting at lunch time when I talked to the players.
“I am happy with their responses, they came to the party and they know the national team is the stage for them to achieve something big.
“I told them that it’s not about the coaches and the technical team but it’s about the players themselves
“If you want to go higher and improve your skills them you have to train and work harder
“As the technical team, we can only support and assist but I think the players are determined.
“I think we selected the right players for a start and I am also happy with my (technical) staff,” said Pagels.
Pagels said he will assess his players after the match tomorrow and hopes that Antipas will have recovered for the next match. “It’s a pity that Quincy is injured and he failed to play at the weekend for his club.
“To me Quincy is a fine player and so many times I have seen him and he is much better physically conditioned, just like any other player here.
“We need such players because it comes handy when trying to win a match against the likes of Nigeria.
“You do not have to play on the soft side but need players who can go in,” he said. Another player in the set-up, Abbas Brian Amidu, challenged his team-mates to learn from previous mistakes and help build a stronger senior national team.
“We have to take lessons from what happened in the Angola game. As young players, we have to learn from the previous mistakes because soon we will be the senior guys in the team.
“It’s not a completely new squad for me because we have played together with some of the guys in the junior sides like the Under-17 and Under-20 but it’s now that expectations are higher for the senior team.
“We just grateful for this opportunity to be recalled for the senior team.
“It’s still painful for us to be missing the Nations Cup finals in South Africa but we now need to make sure in each and every game.
“I think we need to look beyond the game against Botswana because the preparations are for the match against Egypt. We should know that Egypt have been preparing for almost two months for the game and they are taking this seriously,” Amidu.
Squad
Washington Arubi (Pretoria University), Artwell Mukandi (Dynamos), Maxwell Nyamupangedengu(Harare City), Knowledge Musona(Augusburg), Quincy Antipas (Brondby), Archieford Gutu (Kalmar), Denver Mukamba(Wits University), Gilbert Mapemba(Moroka Swallows), Abbas Amidu(Black Leopards), Tafadzwa Rusike(Ajax Cape Town), Khama Billiart (Ajax Cape Town), Simba Sithole (SuperSport United),Rodreck Mutuma (Bloemfontein Celtic), Mathew Rusike(Kaizer Chiefs), Lincolin Zvasiya(Kaizer Chiefs), Masimba Mambare (Highlanders), Ronald Chitiyo (Monomotapa), Peter Moyo (Highlanders), Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United), Partson Jaure (Dynamos), Ocean Mushure (Dynamos), Nicholas Guyo (Monomotapa), Silas Songani (Harare City).
Online Reporter