Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees' trip to the United Kingdom to meet Zimbabwean footballers based in the UK is a step in the right direction in shaping a new-look Warriors.
The trip gives the Warriors coach the chance to come face-to-face with the likes of Trey Nyoni, Isaac Mabaya, Lucien Mahovo, Leon Chiwome, and Shumaira Mheuka and impress on them the merits of playing for their home country.
We have had all sorts of stories on the availability of Nyoni and Mabaya and the visit to their base by Nees will give us the right picture on where exactly they stand — England or Zimbabwe.
The trip also gives the Germany coach the chance to build a relationship with the players already in the Warriors set up and those he will call for the first time.
That Nees will later be joined on the trip by Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi also gives the players that assurance that they will get the best treatment once called to join the Warriors brigade.
One football follower even jokingly commented that the UK trip could also be part of rebranding the Warriors from a team of old-guards to a youthful-outfit in the same manner Zifa are rebranding the Warriors regalia.
Surely, it does not make any sense — during this period — to still be pinning our hopes on the likes of Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona — and others of that era — when we have a huge base of a new breed of Warriors waiting on the wings.
It does not matter where one was born but what is important is to have a strong and successful Warriors team even if it is made up entirely of players born in foreign lands who have Zimbabwean roots and carry the Zimbabwean passport.
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We surely have some talent locally good enough for the Warriors like Emmanuel Jalai, but we should admit that we are not producing enough exceptional talent and our immediate future lies outside the country and in particular in the UK.
Nees and Magwizi will not have any difficulties in their UK journey as Misty Chipere, Phillip Zulu, and Marshall Gore have laid down the foundation and the list of who-is-who of the players is available.
What is only there for Nees to do is to identify those who are playing regularly for their teams and in recognisable leagues and see if they can fit in the Warriors he wants to build.
The focus is to build a team that will do well at Afcon 2025, but the ultimate goal being to qualify and win Afcon 2027 and also to make it to the 2030 World Cup finals in Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
It would be folly to think that we can win Afcon 2025, but the idea would be to qualify to the round of 16 from an intimidating group that includes Angola, Egypt and South Africa.
For 43 years, the Warriors have been searching for the formula to reach the second round of Afcon, but that has always eluded them under different coaches.
This time around, the team is showing signs of promise and with the third best placed team also qualifying, Nees and the Warriors could spring a surprise.
That would be the tonic Zimbabwe needs ahead of the set targets of Afcon 2027 glory and World Cup qualification in 2030.
This is the first time in history that Zifa has embarked on a project of sending the national team coach to the UK to meet players and scout for talent and with funds permitting, this should be extended to other parts of the world where Zimbabwean football talent also flows.
Happily, Zifa — on their part — have indicated that they are moving towards that direction and are starting with the UK where there is a huge base of Zimbabwean football talent scattered all over different leagues.
Nees and Magwizi, however, should be reminded that they will not be in the UK on holiday but on serious football business and the nation experts a good and fruitful end of trip report.
* For your views, comments, and suggestions mkariati@gmail.com or WhatsApp on 071 0774 596 or call 0773 266 779.
