Will Gorowa get it right for Zim?

Sports Reporter
AFTER watching the last four editions of the African Nations Cup finals from the sidelines, Zifa believe that Ian Gorowa should be the right man to take the Warriors to the next finals in 2015 if he is given all the support.Zimbabwe have made two appearances at the continental football showcase in 2004 and 2006 but have to contend with successive disappointments as they watched the 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013 editions as armchair critics at home.

During the period that the Warriors have missed on the finals, their ratings on the Fifa Coca Cola football rankings have also taken a massive dip to 114th in the world and they are currently ranked outside the top 30 teams in Africa.

In 2004, Sunday Chidzambwa made history when he took the Warriors to their maiden appearance at the Nations Cup finals in Tunisia while another local coach, Charles Mhlauri led the team at the 2006 edition in Egypt.

Since then, Zifa have tried and failed over the years to appoint a long-term coach for the senior national team, with the more than half-a-dozen coaches who came over the years failing to take the Warriors to the Promised Land.

Rahman Gumbo came within spitting distance of qualifying for the finals in South Africa, but the Warriors blew away the golden chance when they lost 2-0 to Angola in Luanda last year.

Zifa were knee-jerked into disbanding the Warriors before they appointed German national Klaus Dieter Pagels in an interim capacity.
Pagels, virtually came to Zifa free of charge as the football association took advantage of the government-to-government agreement that existed to hire his services for the national team.

The German coach is heading back to his native country and Zifa have elevated one of his assistants Gorowa to take over, with the aim of getting the team to the African nations finals in 2015.

Zifa board member responsible for competitions Benedict Moyo yesterday said Gorowa was supposed to use tomorrow’s African Nations Championship against Mauritius in Port Louis to start the journey towards Morocco.

Moyo, who is in Port Louis as Gorowa dives into the deep end, said the former Black Rhinos striker was well aware that this game will leave a lasting impressing on his curriculum vitae.

“I think this game is very import for the coach because it’s his first in charge. This is the match that will either make or break him as he begins his career as Warriors coach,” said Moyo.

For some neutral fans, the coming in of Gorowa and his assistant Callisto Pasuwa offers a refreshing change in the technical team instead of rotating Chidzambwa, Gumbo and Norman Mapeza from the local pool of coaches.

But Moyo is well aware that Gorowa’s job will not be a stroll in the park as Zifa are masters at failing to attract long-term partners for the national teams.

The Warriors threatened to boycott their Cosafa Castle Cup final against Zambia on Sunday, after Zifa had failed to pay some of the outstanding allowances and Moyo is giving himself kudos for saving the day.

“We do not have the finances as Zifa and it remains a major challenge.
“Honestly we cannot have Dube continually bailing out the national team. He paid for air tickets this time around and he has done that before.

“During the tournament in Zambia, I had to abandon my duties as a member of the Cosafa technical committee and went to address the players.
“It was going to be of no use to go the match venue when the players were boycotting the game because of money.

“I was not even the head of delegation but I had to play a part.
“Now I have told the youngsters here (in Port Louis) that Zifa has no money but they have to give their best. For now I do not foresee any problems because they understand the situation and I will be able to concentrate on his job,” said Moyo.

A former Ziscosteel defender, Moyo said Zifa had toyed with the idea of fielding the youth team for CHAN tournament.
“When we failed to qualify for South Africa, we then disbanded the team. Our intention as Zifa was to completely withdraw from all international football until we have pooled the resources but there was a huge outcry from fans.

“For this CHAN assignment, in essence we should have fielded the Under-23 team and a few experienced guys but because of the recent defeat in Zambia we need to get a victory for the nation.

“Our focus is to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of nations and so as we play in this match against Mauritius, we should be focused on qualifying for 2015 African Nations Cup finals and that’s main our target,” said Moyo.

Moyo has also implored on the corporate world and the government to play a big part in funding the national team activities.
“The resources for the team will remain a challenge for us. Our government does not have enough to support us.

“In other countries corporates that support sport are given rebates but ours is not playing a big part.
“However, I am encouraged by the conduct of the players who have been exceptional so far. I do not foresee them brewing a similar scene to the one in Zambia before this game,” said Moyo.

The Warriors, who arrived in Mauritius on Friday held two training session yesterday with team manager Patrick Mutesva hoping that they will get a feel of the match venue this afternoon.

“We might be having a new coach but the players are gelling on well. They have been together for over a month and they understand each other.
“So we are all happy so far and the Mauritians have given us a warm reception. So far so good and all the players are still available for selection,” said Mutesva. Gorowa is expected to name his final team after today’s training session.