VETERAN football administrator Paddington Japajapa has strongly urged the Zimbabwean football community to exercise patience with the Warriors coach, Michael Nees, amid growing pressure on the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) to dismiss him.
The former Caps United FC public relations manager argues that it is premature to show Nees the exit door, especially since his primary mission — qualifying for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals — was accomplished.
Japajapa believes that Afcon 2025 will serve as the definitive test for the German-born coach’s future.
“I personally strongly feel that the Zimbabwean soccer-loving nation must be patient enough to allow the coach an opportunity to continue with his work unhindered until after Afcon 2025,” Japajapa stated in a Press release.
“Since the coach has helped the team to qualify, that brings a sense of moral booster for future bigger assignments.”
The administrator went on to suggest a clear benchmark for Nees’ employment: “Only after his performance at the Afcon 2025 finals can the nation have a final judgement on Nees.
“If he fails to reach a respectable stage of the finals, like the last 16 ... Zifa will have no option but to show him the exit door and to recruit another better performing coach.”
Japajapa highlighted a critical, often-overlooked factor contributing to the team’s struggles: the lack of a home-ground advantage.
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“We have been playing home matches away from home, a scenario without precedence in world football,” he added.
“The 12th player — the supporter who motivates the players psychologically — has been missing for more than two years up to now.”
The veteran football consultant believes that the Warriors’ recent underwhelming results, particularly in World Cup qualifiers, are due to a blunt strike force and a lack of time for the coach to establish effective combinations.
“Football coaches need enough time to work with players so as to come up with workable combinations, sharpening the team’s strike force so that the team can jell,” he noted.
While praising the improved performance of the defence and midfield, Japajapa stressed that the team’s Achilles’ heel is upfront.
“The strike force is totally blunt,” he lamented.
“It is so pathetic and a shame that for the entire 90 minutes a team ... fails dismally to direct even one shot towards goal.”
He urged Nees to cast his net wider and scout for physically stronger, hungry strikers — even looking into the Division One leagues — who can be thoroughly drilled on shooting and scoring techniques ahead of the December tournament.
Japajapa also turned his attention to Zifa, calling on the association to uphold professional administrative standards.
“Zifa must also put their house in order in terms of professional football administration,” he asserted.
“The association must pay players in time to boost morale in the camp, clear all outstanding amounts and allowances owed to players as a player incentive.”
