Online Reporter
Eddie Chikamhi
ZIFA believes it has found the right man to lead Zimbabwe’s football revival after unveiling Spanish coach Ramon Catala as Warriors head coach yesterday, alongside a new technical team tasked with spearheading the association’s ambitious Dream 2030 initiative aimed at transforming the country into a competitive force on the international stage.
Catala, a Uefa Pro Licence holder, takes charge of the senior men’s national team despite having limited experience as a head coach in international football.
However, the Spaniard brings with him more than three decades of coaching experience gained across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East. He has previously served as assistant coach of Nicaragua and technical director of the Libyan national team.
The Zimbabwe post is, however, expected to be his first appointment as head coach of a senior national team.
His appointment brings to an end months of speculation surrounding the Warriors coaching position following the sudden resignation of Romanian coach Marian “Mario” Marinica four months ago.
Catala immediately set out an ambitious football philosophy centred on attacking, possession-based football, drawing inspiration from the style traditionally associated with Catalonia and Spanish giants Barcelona.
Spanish influence is set to feature prominently within the Warriors technical set-up, with Catala joined by compatriots Vicente Girona Izquierdo and Marc Sanchez, who will also assume responsibility for the national Under-23 side.
CAPS United coach Takesure Chiragwi has been retained from the previous Warriors technical team as one of three assistant coaches, while former Warriors captain Kaitano Tembo has been assigned to lead the national Under-20 team.
The association also announced appointments for the Under-20, Under-17 and Under-15 boys’ and girls’ national teams as part of the wider Dream 2030 programme, which places strong emphasis on player development and continuity across all age groups.
Speaking during the unveiling ceremony yesterday, Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi said the appointments represented far more than a routine recruitment exercise, but signalled a new technical direction for Zimbabwean football.
Under the Dream 2030 initiative, Zifa aims to establish a unified football development pathway anchored by a recognisable playing philosophy from junior national teams through to the senior sides.
“We are not trying to turn Zimbabwe into Spain. We want to combine Zimbabwean talent with world-class methodology and build a distinctly Zimbabwean football identity. Gone are the days when appointments are made without considering how they fit into the wider football philosophy. We want a recognisable Zimbabwean football identity.
“But that does not mean every coach must play the same formation. Football philosophy is bigger than formation. We want common principles around technical quality, tactical intelligence, intensity, transition, athletic development, discipline, courage and responsibility when wearing the Zimbabwe jersey. A player moving from Under-17 to Under-20, or Under-20 to Under-23, should experience continuity rather than starting again every time,” said Magwizi.
The newly appointed coaches have been handed four-year contracts running until 2030.
“We’re looking at a minimum of four years. It’s a project we are running with and it’s not focusing on a competition. It’s not just focusing on the current Warriors team. It’s focusing on building a system. So, we are saying, we’re looking at the first four years, and then we will be reviewing as you go along,” said Magwizi.
According to his curriculum vitae, Catala has worked with several clubs, including Celta Vigo, Espanyol, Real Zaragoza and Dynamo Kyiv, primarily as a fitness coach under respected managers such as Mauricio Pochettino, Ernesto Valverde, Miguel Angel Lotina and Tintin Marquez.
His experience in African football is largely confined to his stint with the Libyan national team, where he served as Technical Director between 2021 and 2022. The Zimbabwe role is expected to be his first appointment as head coach at national team level.
Catala will work closely with the Zifa Technical Director’s office and fellow national team coaches in implementing the Dream 2030 vision.
“We want to do a great job as the president (Magwizi) said. We want to win games as well as to give stability and also the results,” said Catala.
His immediate assignment will be to guide the Warriors through next month’s Afcon 2028 qualifiers, beginning with an away fixture against Sierra Leone before a “home” encounter against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“First of all, we have to go step by step. We have to think about the first two matches, Sierra Leone and Congo, and start preparing well; start by choosing the best players we can for the first match and then we will see what we can achieve.
“Of course, we are ambitious, we want to qualify in every competition we play and of course we have the same dream like you. Of course, we want all the supporters to be proud of our team, of our way to play, how we represent the national team and the country. It’s another thing that is so important for us, not just qualify, but it is. But also be proud of our team, of our way to play and our way to work,” said Catala.
The Spaniard was equally clear when outlining the style of football he intends to implement.
“We are from Catalonia. Our team will be very offensive, a very aggressive team. We like to dominate games with the ball. So, we will try to pass the ball in the opponents’ field. We will try to be aggressive when we lose the ball.
“We will try to be aggressive when we lose the ball and we will try to dominate when we have the ball because that’s our philosophy and we think that’s the best way to be competitive. We would like to be a very difficult team to play against,” said Catala.
Zifa also appointed Wilson Mutekede as assistant to Sanchez in the Under-23 set-up. Former Zimbabwe international Kaitano Tembo, who recently served as interim Warriors coach, will be assisted by Max Makanza in the Under-20 set-up.
Former Young Warriors coach Tafadza Mashiri will take charge of the Under-17 side and will be assisted by former Zimbabwe international George Mbwando. Development coach Backlyfield Chivenge will lead the Under-15 team, with Alexio Sigion serving as his assistant.
