ZIFA, Warriors and Chidzambwa

28 Jul, 2017 - 00:07 0 Views
ZIFA, Warriors and Chidzambwa

The ManicaPost

ESTEEMED followers of the game of football, thank you for finding time for interaction. So from the high of winning the COSAFA Castle Cup for a record fifth time, the Warriors sank to a low of not only losing their first ever CHAN qualifier, but also getting knocked out of the running for the finals.

Their CHAN fine run came to a screeching halt in that disappointing elimination to lowly Namibia after having gathered some momentum with a glorious COSAFA campaign. Well, this can be a common occurrence in football, but with the way ZIFA have been handling and running the affairs of our dearly loved national team, many a sincere fan of the game cannot help wearing glum faces.

While coach Sunday Chidzambwa should duly take the kudos for successfully completing his Warriors assignment with a COSAFA gold, how and why did he quickly change into new boots, handed by the ZIFA bosses, to shoot at and score another Zimbabwe CHAN qualification? What suddenly happened to Rahman Gumbo, the man who had been tasked with that latter responsibility but got elbowed out?

With all due respect to Mhofu following his latest accomplishment, the glorious COSAFA excursion, in a long list of other storied achievements, was the CHAN mission his reward for his exploits in South Africa just two weeks earlier? Well, where does this then leave or place Gumbo?

Does he wait on the wings for another future dance with the Warriors or he reverts to the HPC?  If the latter situation obtains, how is his, together with the other gentlemen who sit in that committee, assessment of Mhofu going to be following these developments?

Friday Football Echoes get it perfectly clear that consistency has so much currency and pays in this business, but what was going to happen if the most decorated coach in Zimbabwean football were to qualify and score another first bringing the CHAN trophy home?

Would that have placed him in good stead to eventually take over the overall Warriors mantle given that the real deal, AFCON, is still some distance away on the horizon? Would he have got knocking on the door as Warriors substantive coach?

And as was earlier feared, this trinity of a setup in the Warriors coaching hierarchy was always going to turn out to be a football hot potato for ZIFA.  But surely we cannot be making one step forward and two backward or taking chances with our national team.  But was this not time for Mhofu to step aside and hand over the baton to Gumbo, who must have been eagerly and curiously queuing up for his turn? Just how did ZIFA go back on their word of Gumbo coming into the picture for CHAN?  For seemingly overstaying his welcome as Warriors coach, Chidzambwa had fate frowning upon him as he became the first ever coach to preside over a futile attempt at CHAN qualification. After having played his bit part, was it not prudent for the veteran trainer to gracefully let the next man take his turn as he had, following his appointment, told us that he was not interested in the job?

That was patriotic of Mhofu, some will be quick to shout, and it deserves plaudits; but others shall also ask who does not crave and cherish the chance of representing and leading their country to success and get to eternalise themselves in national football folklore? Gumbo, as did Chidzambwa, certainly does, too!

It’s Game On, Play On!

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