The Sunday Mail
Sir 18area.coms
GEORGE MBWANDO sounded too desperate to help Kallisto Pasuwa prepare the Warriors for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. After failing to contact the national team coach, the Germany-based former national soccer team player went to Zimbabwe’s leading daily – The Herald – with his “I want to help” message.Predictably the Pasuwa brigade – and there are plenty of them who believe the Warriors gaffer is the best thing to happen to the world since sliced bread – quickly ganged up on him. Mbwando was and is still being accused of anything and everything.
My fear is that even global warming will soon to be added to his list of misdemeanors by praise singers who conveniently turn a blind eye to Pasuwa’s serious shortcomings.
Fellow Zimbabweans, we don’t need a rocket scientist to tell us that Pasuwa needs of better football brains in his corner when the Warriors make their third Afcon appearance. The coach’s dismal record in the Caf Champions League with Dynamos and the way he was exposed at this year’s African Nations Championships and Cosafa Cup are clear signs that Pasuwa doesn’t get going when the going gets tough.
In an era where everyone agrees that football has become scientific, as suggested by a Mbwando who has offered to travel across Europe spying on players that Zimbabwe will face in Gabon, Pasuwa believes the game is prophetic.
It appears he would rather surround himself with members of his Madzibaba apostolic sect, who claim to be prophets, rather than serious football minds.
This Pasuwa guy is a different type of coach, and somewhere on him must be a sign reading “handle with care”. He sees shadows everywhere. Mbwando’s revelations that he has been trying without success to contact Pasuwa are not surprising at all because this national coach of ours seems allergic to answering his mobile phone. On the few occasions that its gets picked up the voice at the other end invariably informs the caller that the gaffer is busy in some bush with his white robes and shepherd’s staff.
Sir dare says the chances of Pasuwa agreeing to work with Mbwando are as good as that of the Warriors gaffer’s chances of becoming pope. Remember what Pasuwa said when the legendary Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa suggested that the national team coach needed some help ahead of the trip to Gabon?
“I did not hear what Sunday said but I am sure if Mhofu has something to tell me he will get in touch and likewise I also talk to him since he was my mentor,” he said in The Sunday Mail Sport of September 16, 2016. Now if Pasuwa can aim such a jab at a man who worked so hard to make Zimbabwe football relevant, how much respect can he possibly have for a guy like Mbwando?
Although Pasuwa has been silent, Mbwando seems to have got the message from the Warriors gaffer with one recent Facebook post of his reading: “It doesn’t have to be me, someone else can do the job … because it’s necessary!!! Good luck to the Warriors in Gabon #Warriorforever.”
As Mbwando steps back, we can only hope that Zifa will find a way of making Pasuwa work with the high performance committee they recently set up. A group comprising Chidzambwa, Moses “Bambo” Chunga Rahman Gumbo, former youth international goalkeeper Innocent Chogugudza and ex-referee Masimba Chihowa should be able to offer the national coach some much-needed help.
Pasuwa needs help, not just prophetic help, as Gabon 2017 draws nigh. We are tired of the “maybe the boys lacked composure in front of goal” card he always likes to play each time the Warriors come short at continental competitions.
Sir exits the scene!
Sir is social media commentator and writes this satirical column in his personal capacity. Feedback: [email protected]
