IN what is seen as a calculated move to quell a storm of fan unrest and shore up a struggling Warriors team, Zifa yesterday roped in Kaitano Tembo to be the team’s second assistant coach.
The former SuperSport United and Sekhukhune United coach was unveiled at a Press conference in Harare, a pivotal addition clearly aimed at stabilising coach Michael Nees’ technical team just three months before the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals in Morocco.
Tembo’s appointment serves as a highly visible vote of no confidence in the status quo, even as Zifa officially frames it as an essential enhancement.
Nees has found himself squarely in the firing line, his tenure marred by a string of disappointing results.
The Warriors are already mathematically eliminated from the World Cup race as they are bottom of Group C with a dismal record of four draws and zero wins from eight matches.
While he was not in charge of some of the matches, Nees’s overall coaching record of just two victories in 14 games has left Zifa scrambling for solutions.
The pressure is palpable, and the German coach needs strong results in the upcoming internationals to validate his position ahead of the Afcon challenge.
“We want to put our best foot forward in the remaining World Cup qualifiers and at the upcoming Afcon tournament. That is why we have brought in coach Kaitano Tembo to help us be what we all want to be,” Zifa president Nqobile Magwizi conceded, acknowledging the fan frustration with the assurance: “To our fans, we see your passion and we do not take it for granted. Success is a process.”
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For Nees, Tembo’s arrival is a personal victory, marking the fulfilment of a year-long quest to secure his preferred technical ally.
“When I first came here last year, Kaitano was my preferred choice as assistant because I didn’t know many people at the time,” Nees revealed, highlighting Tembo’s experience in the demanding South African premier league.
“We first met in 2003 while I was coaching Seychelles, and I also came to know him better during my years in South Africa as a technical director. He has gained a wealth of experience working in South Africa, which will be valuable for us.
“It was impossible to bring him on board last year because he still had commitments at his club. But when we were drawn in the same group as South Africa for the 2025 Afcon, I immediately thought of Kaitano again, and that’s why I decided to bring him in now.”
Tembo, who joins first assistant Takesure Chiragwi on the bench, now gets to settle in before the Warriors travel to Morocco with a clear mandate of achieving the country’s first-ever qualification to the Afcon knockout stages.
Tembo’s first involvement will come almost immediately, with the two remaining World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Lesotho now designated as crucial Afcon preparatory matches.
Due to a continuous stadium ban imposed by Fifa on Zimbabwe, the Warriors will “host” their neighbours, Bafana Bafana, in a highly anticipated clash at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on October 10.
They will then travel to Polokwane to face Lesotho three days later to wrap up the ill-fated World Cup campaign.
Meanwhile, Nees has recalled Khama Billiat into the squad, having recovered from injury.
The Warriors posterboy is one of five Scottland players named in the squad, together with Godknows Murwira, Terrence Dzvukamanja and the Musona brothers, Knowledge and Walter.
Billiat’s return is part of the few changes Nees has made to the last squad that played against Benin and Rwanda.
Striker Prince Dube comes in to replace the injured Tino Kadewere, while Jonah Fabisch is recalled in place of Prosper Padera.
There was no space in the squad for Andy Rinomhota and Sean Fusire after his well publicised clash with Zifa last time out, while Simba Bhora defender Ishe Mauchi was also surprisingly overlooked despite his strong performances in the domestic league.
Warriors squad
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi, Elvis Chipezeze, Martin Mapisa
Defenders: Gerald Takwara, Munashe Garan’anga, Teenage Hadebe, Brendan Galloway, Emmanuel Jalai, Godknows Murwira, Jordan Zemura, Divine Lunga
Midfielders and strikers: Marvelous Nakamba, Jonah Fabisch, Marshall Munetsi, Tawanda Chirewa, Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat, Bill Antonio, Tawanda Maswanhise, Walter Musona, Prince Dube, Thando Ngwenya
