The ManicaPost
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE country’s football mother body, Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has given the greatest hint so far that Warriors’ coach, Zdravko Logarusic’s contract will not be cut short anytime soon.
The association’s spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela maintained that ‘the Craotian is in charge’. If anything, preparations for the impending World Cup qualifiers are well on course with invites for players expected to be send out next week.
Speculation was rife in recent weeks that Loga could face the axe given a poor string of results in recent matches that he has been in charge of the Warriors.
The ZIFA technical committee met to deliberate on Loga’s performance and handed over their recommendations to the board which is now expected to sit and decide on Loga’s fate.
However, Gwesela told Post Sport this week that ‘Loga has a running contract with ZIFA that will come to an end next year’.
Gwesela said the highly anticipated ZIFA board meeting is not solely about Loga and the Warriors’ performance.
“Loga has a running contract with ZIFA that will end next year. The recommendations by the technical committee will only be discussed as part of a meeting that will convene for other important issues. There is nothing to disturb the coach (Loga) in going ahead with his job. He is still in charge,” said Gwesela.
In a separate interview, national team general manager, Wellington Mpandare confirmed that they will be sending out invites to foreign based players starting next week.
“We have planned to start sending out invites to players by next week so that we move ahead with preparations for the World Cup qualifiers,” said Mpandare.
After qualifying for their third successive Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals, the Warriors will now shift their focus to qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Zimbabwe, who are aiming to qualify for their maiden World Cup dance, are in Group G, which also features neighbours, South Africa, West African giants, Ghana and Ethiopia.
The Warriors will begin their battle for a place at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar with a potentially explosive showdown with South Africa at home next month, before travelling to Ethiopia, as the battle for a place at the global showcase in 2022 begins.
History favours Zimbabwe which have won seven matches, while Bafana Bafana have recorded six wins, with two games between the neighbours ending in draws.
It is now seven years since the rivals last met when the Warriors edged South Africa 2-1 in an international friendly match at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in September 2013, with Knowledge Musona and Cuthbert Malajila scoring for the visitors, while Bernard Parker pulled one goal back for Bafana Bafana.
In the Battle of Limpopo, Peter Ndlovu and Musona are the highest scorers with three goals each, while Delron Buckley and Lucas Thwala follow with each having struck twice.
In this group, only Ghana and South Africa have featured at the World Cup before, while Zimbabwe and Ethiopia are seeking their maiden qualification.
