JOHANNESBURG — Former Orlando Pirates coach Kostadin Papic has expressed his interest in coaching the Zimbabwe senior national football team and believes the Warriors have enough quality to qualify for future Fifa World Cup tournaments.
The Citizen/Sports Reporter
The 58-year-old Serbian national, who has managed a number of African clubs in South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria and Tanzania, says he is confident he can lead Zimbabwe to the World Cup given the type of football talent the country has at its disposal.
The former Orlando Pirates coach made the admissions in a video taken while having lunch with some of the players he coached while he was with the Soweto giants.
One of the players, Phumudzo Manenzhe, asked Papic what he would do with the likes of Kudakwashe Mahachi, Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat on his squad.
“They have talent and this thing (pointing at his head).
Coaching them would be something different, we could go to the World Cup, I am telling you, after that I don’t work anymore,” said Papic in the video.
Responding to a question around the financial challenges that come with coaching the Zimbabwean national team, Papic said he would ask to be paid after every achievement.
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Papic and his assistant Vladislav Heric were early this month fired by South African National First Division (NFD) outfit Royal Eagles after a string of poor results.
“The clubs bosses were not happy with the results, and they have since taken the decision to fire Papic and Heric.
Roger Sikhakhane will take over. He will commence his duties on Wednesday,” a source told Independent Media.
Papic and Heric had joined Eagles in December, taking over from Zipho Dlangalala.
The Serbian has coached on the continent for the last 25 years since his five year stint at Nigerian side Lobi Stars between 1993-1998.
Since then Papic has led the likes of Soweto bitter rivals Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, Polokwane City, Maritzburg United, Black Leopards, Ghanaian giants Hearts of Oak and Dares Salaam based club Young Africans.
He had also a brief stint with Nigerian sides Lobi Stars, Enyimba, Engu Rangers and Kwara United.
