HIGHLANDERS coach Baltemar Brito has expressed delight over Zimbabwe’s return to international football this week.
Zimbabwe was banned from participating in international games in February last year over government interference in Zifa affairs.
The lifting of the suspension saw the Warriors included in the draw for the African qualifiers for the 2026 Fifa World Cup yesterday.
Brito said local players will have bigger platforms to showcase their skills and market themselves.
“I would like to congratulate the people who run football in Zimbabwe concerning the return to international football. It is a big step for football in the country; it’s a big thing for these young boys to be exposed to international football. It’s time to make Zimbabwean football exciting again and it is what everyone involved to be thinking about,” Brito said.
“Football is business. I can give an example of our country, (Portugal) which is a small country but I can tell you that because of football, at the end of every year, the income is big because every season we do transfers of players to other leagues and this means big incomes. Marketing Zimbabwe players in the Caf competitions is different from marketing them in the domestic league. Of course, we have been professional since the first day even without international football, but now these boys should look for the big opportunities for themselves, exposing and marketing themselves and making their dreams come true and improving the lives of their families.”
Ahead of the next bunch of Castle Lager Premier Soccer League matches Brito complained about the Barbourfields (BF) turf.
“It is unbelievable that in two sessions people can destroy the turf because to recover it will be hard. We will have scouts that will come from the other side of the world who will come here to assess one of our players. Do you think the kind of games will be good with good turf or bumpy field? How do you market your product or players?
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We are foreigners and will go at the end of our contracts, but while we are here we are trying to do the correct things, but sometimes the people don’t care. We are back to international football, but the people’s mindset has not changed. If we want to do something for these boys, let’s change and respect each other. Without good performances we don’t promote our product,” the Brazil-born coach added.
Since the National Sports Stadium was closed, big clubs Dynamos and Caps United have shifted base to BF for their big games and last week the Glamour Boys were at Emagumeni to host FC Platinum.
They are back at BF tomorrow to face Chicken Inn.
