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THE under fire Zimbabwe Football Association will stick to the Under-23s for the senior national team’s assignments until the policy is changed by the football governing mother body’s board.
Zifa has recently come under heavy criticism for failing to rope in talented players, dotted all over the world, as part of the national team and instead opting to use the Young Warriors.
Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said the decision to use the Under-23s was made by the Zifa board and it was only the board that could change that policy.
He said when the board made that decision, they felt it was a part of a rebuilding exercise following the Zimbabwe Warriors’ dismal showing in the qualifiers for the 2015 African Cup of Nations that were hosted by Equatorial Guinea in January.
Zimbabwe was booted out of the preliminary round Afcon qualifiers after losing 1-0 to Tanzania in Dar-Es-Salaam before being held to a two all draw in Harare in what was one of the worst outings by the national team and the early exit left the country embarrassed.
By coming with that decision, Gwesela said the board felt it best to recruit youngsters and build a national team for the future.
“That is why when coaches were announced last year we did not name those for the national senior team because it was disbanded and the board decided we go to the grassroots and develop talent from there. It is the board that will decide on whether we revert to the Warriors or we continue using the Young Warriors,” he said.
Last week the football mother body came under heavy criticism from the game’s stakeholders after they failed to utilise the Fifa window for friendly games while all of the countries in Southern Africa had managed to do so.
Seasoned soccer administrator Kennedy Ndebele also called for the discarding of the policy saying it made the national team unattractive to sponsors.
Ndebele said the country had a number of experienced and marketable players dotted around the country but it was unfortunate they were not contributing to the nation because of the Zifa decision to rely on the Under-23s.
“We have good footballers as a country but we have decided to alienate them because of age yet they have the capability of making the nation proud.
“We have a lot of players in the South African Premiership, one of the top leagues in Africa but we are shutting them out.
“We simply decided to focus on the under-23s without having a programme that groomed the players from a young age and think we can succeed, I doubt it will work,” said Ndebele.
Ndebele said the likes of Cuthbert Malajila, Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Silas Songani, Ali Sadiki and Tendai Ndoro were not being given the opportunity to shine for their country yet they were the toast of their foreign leagues.
He said Zifa actually stood to benefit a lot as such players would cement the Warriors’ brand and attract sponsors.
“The senior national team is supposed to be our pride but if we do not have the senior men’s team how are we going to attract funding.
“Once we have big names in the national team companies will obviously want to associate with the Warriors because chances of success will be higher,” said Ndebele.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter