Warriors interim coach Klaus-Dieter Pagels has revealed that European-based players will form the backbone of his team.
BY MICHAEL MADYIRA
Pagels said he has already carried out extensive research on Zimbabweans plying their trade in European leagues and will constantly monitor them.
Zimbabwe has a few footballers plying their trade in big European leagues, but the German said he intends to craft his side around the European-based players available.
“My philosophy needs European-based players as the backbone of the team,” said Pagels.
“I was in Germany recently where I contacted my friends all over Europe who gave me a lot of information on all Zimbabweans playing in Europe. I also researched on the internet, so let me proudly say that I am now well-informed. At the moment I am not at liberty to name the players, but my ideal team is already there.”
Previous Warriors coaches often cried foul on lack of information on foreign-based players.
Pagels however, said the mere fact that a player was in Europe did not guarantee a straight march into the national team. Pagels, who limitedly mentioned South African-based players, also spoke about the need to blend highly-performing local-based players into his team.
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“The challenge here is to build a new team. We must have a good mix of European-based with the best playing locally. We need players with a full heart to play for Zimbabwe. “Those with confidence,” Pagels said.
Most African national teams desperately bank on overseas-based players with powerhouses Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal and Ghana teams composed almost entirely of European-based players.
Zimbabwe meanwhile has relied heavily on South African-based players with little success and often players like Dickson Choto, Mike Temwanjira, Musa Mguni and Costa Nhamoinesu have seen limited action in national team colours.
Some have already retired despite their consistent appearances for their European clubs while others’ careers are nearing an end due to age.
Overlooked players like Quincy Antipas and Bradley Pritchard could see much action under Pagels, who is known as a staunch admirer of Antipas, a regular at Danish giants Brøndby IF.
Youthful Knowledge Musona, Ovidy Karuru and Archford Gutu are currently Zimbabwe’s overseas-based brightest prospects.
Over the years, it had appeared easy for any player to claim the Warriors jersey with Rahman Gumbo’s tenure witnessing even Botswana-based players enjoying a free-walk into the national team.
