Sports / Soccer
'Appointing new Warriors coach was a blunder and a big joke,' say Gwindi
13 Mar 2013 at 08:34hrs | Views
FORMER Premier Soccer League secretary-general Leslie Gwindi has described Warriors coach Klaus Dieter Pagels' appointment as a blunder and a big joke.
Pagels was appointed national team coach by Zifa last year in November after the then national team coach Rahman Gumbo tendered his resignation due to the Warriors' failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals held in South Africa last month.
The Warriors were dumped out of the final qualifiers by Angola in Luanda after carrying a 3-1 healthy lead from the first leg in Harare. They conceded two early goals in the return match and that was enough to elbow them out of the competition.
While addressing journalists on Friday in the city, Gwindi did not mince his words when he said Zifa erred when they offered the post to Pagels whom he described as a man on holiday in Zimbabwe.
"The rot in our football lies with Zifa and that is where this whole circus is emanating from. How can Zifa thrust Pagels in the hot seat of national team coach? It boggles the mind because Pagels' football history is not known and yet Zifa opted for him to be our national team coach. Pagels is in Zimbabwe on holiday to enjoy the sunshine, the world famous Vic Falls and other tourist attractions. To me his appointment is a blunder and a big joke," said Gwindi.
Gwindi said the fact that Zifa had Pagels in mind shows how out of touch they are with football and the nation will never achieve anything since those entrusted with football leadership lack foresight.
"Zifa leadership lacks vision and they have nothing new to offer. We need young, energetic and brilliant leaders who can take our football to the next level. We have the potential to succeed as a nation but we need to clean up Zifa first. Those in Zifa lack football brains and Pagels' appointment clearly shows this," said Gwindi who is now Harare City FC chairman.
Gwindi said to expect Pagels to achieve anything with the national team was asking for miracles to happen.
"Do not expect a miracle from Pagels because he is short-sighted and overlooks good players. He needs a strong team of assistants who can help him to identify players and understand the culture of Zimbabwean football. It will take him six years to instill his Germany type of football in the players and this will come at a big cost," he said.
As for the late Reinhard Fabisch, Gwindi said he was successful because he loved Zimbabwe and this was shown by his marriage to a Zimbabwean woman.
He also said the Dream Team was both popular and successful because Fabisch was surrounded by brilliant assistants like Sunday Chidzambwa and they worked as a unit.
Pagels was appointed national team coach by Zifa last year in November after the then national team coach Rahman Gumbo tendered his resignation due to the Warriors' failure to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals held in South Africa last month.
The Warriors were dumped out of the final qualifiers by Angola in Luanda after carrying a 3-1 healthy lead from the first leg in Harare. They conceded two early goals in the return match and that was enough to elbow them out of the competition.
While addressing journalists on Friday in the city, Gwindi did not mince his words when he said Zifa erred when they offered the post to Pagels whom he described as a man on holiday in Zimbabwe.
"The rot in our football lies with Zifa and that is where this whole circus is emanating from. How can Zifa thrust Pagels in the hot seat of national team coach? It boggles the mind because Pagels' football history is not known and yet Zifa opted for him to be our national team coach. Pagels is in Zimbabwe on holiday to enjoy the sunshine, the world famous Vic Falls and other tourist attractions. To me his appointment is a blunder and a big joke," said Gwindi.
Gwindi said the fact that Zifa had Pagels in mind shows how out of touch they are with football and the nation will never achieve anything since those entrusted with football leadership lack foresight.
"Zifa leadership lacks vision and they have nothing new to offer. We need young, energetic and brilliant leaders who can take our football to the next level. We have the potential to succeed as a nation but we need to clean up Zifa first. Those in Zifa lack football brains and Pagels' appointment clearly shows this," said Gwindi who is now Harare City FC chairman.
Gwindi said to expect Pagels to achieve anything with the national team was asking for miracles to happen.
"Do not expect a miracle from Pagels because he is short-sighted and overlooks good players. He needs a strong team of assistants who can help him to identify players and understand the culture of Zimbabwean football. It will take him six years to instill his Germany type of football in the players and this will come at a big cost," he said.
As for the late Reinhard Fabisch, Gwindi said he was successful because he loved Zimbabwe and this was shown by his marriage to a Zimbabwean woman.
He also said the Dream Team was both popular and successful because Fabisch was surrounded by brilliant assistants like Sunday Chidzambwa and they worked as a unit.
Source - TH
