WARRIORS coach Klaus Dieter Pagels says he has no problem with Zifa technical director Nelson Matongorere sitting on the technical bench of the national football team. SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Pagels described Matongorere as “a good manager and a nice guy”. “I don’t have any problem with Nelson sitting on the technical bench. It’s a pity some people at Zifa are not comfortable with that. To me he is a good manager and a nice guy,” said Pagels.
Matongorere sat on the technical team bench on Sunday when Zimbabwe fell 2-4 to Egypt in their 2014 World Cup qualifier at the National Sports Stadium.
As Zimbabwe searches for answers following the heavy defeat on Sunday, Zifa have questioned the decision by Matongorere to attend the Warriors training sessions and also sit on the technical bench.
The domestic soccer controlling body has since asked Matongorere, who is Pagels’ closest friend in Zimbabwe, to submit a report on the issue on the grounds that he overstepped his mandate.
The Zifa technical director, who was dressed in the official kit used by the Warriors technical staff, travelled with the national team for its friendly matches in Zambia and Malawi in preparation for the World Cup qualifier against Egypt.
Matongorere will, however, not be travelling with the team to Guinea today after he was reprimanded by Zifa chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze.
“He is not travelling to Guinea. He is not part of the travelling team,” added Pagels.
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The Warriors are scheduled to fly out to Guinea this afternoon via Senegal for the match that will kick off at 1900hrs on Sunday. The team will return through Senegal and Johannesburg, South Africa, after the match arriving in Zimbabwe at 2120hrs on Monday.
