admin
Mzingaye Sibanda Sports Reporter—
ZIFA have been blamed by Bulawayo soccer fans for the national team’s exit from the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Sunday. Zimbabwean soccer fans have not stopped talking about the match and the poor result. Tanzania progressed 3-2 on aggregate. Fans could not hide their frustration with the motherbody Zifa which they blamed for poor preparations.
“When Tanzania was playing Malawi in a friendly, we were busy playing a depleted Dynamos side which we lost to on countless occasions.
“Their preparations were pathetic, Zifa should have done better, I am so disappointed with them because the team didn’t have enough time to gel. Now we have to go back to the drawing board and rectify what went wrong and start afresh.
“To me our administration is so poor that’s why we will never progress as a nation,” said Daniel Bingandadi a former Zimbabwe Saints player.
Josphat Ngulube, a teacher, said the national team should be given ample time to prepare and Zifa should motivate players by keeping their end of the bargain each time they make a promise.
“I am really angry because Zimbabwe keeps on disappointing us. First Zifa should have made sure that Warriors get enough time to prepare and to make sure that players are motivated.
“We understand that those who played in Chan haven’t got their money and some are saying there were changes of goal posts. It is crucial for Zifa to honour promises so that there is mutual trust between the players and the Zifa executive,” he said.
Ngulube said the Ministry of Sports, Arts and Culture should ensure players are motivated so that they can do their best to win.
A local dealer Ellias Mwale said Warriors lack continuity and that’s why they always choke when it matters.
“Zifa is to blame because they did not give coaches adequate time to prepare,” said Mwale.
Unity Village dealer only identified as Bra Bizza had a different opinion as he took a swipe at players who he said were not hungry for a win.
“The players lacked the hunger to win and they didn’t even show character at all. There is lack of commitment and as long as our players do not have that pride to lift the flag high, we will continue to lose.
“The coaches on their part should not select players who are out form like was the case with Denver Mukamba. We need players that play regularly at clubs in the national team,” he said.
Caroline Ndlovu who owns a sports shop said the national team should focus on the local based players who still have a point to prove.
“To end this, let’s have a national team with local players like is the case in Nigeria.
Why cry for Willard Katsande or Edward Sadomba while we have our locals like Danny Phiri or Kuda Mahachi who can do the job better and we could have progressed,” said Ndlovu.
derick.khumalo