QUESTION MARKS???—-OF ALGERIA CLASH AND QUESTIONABLE SELECTIONS

The Zimbabwe Warriors have a new coach in Zdravko Logarusic, an instance that always comes with surprises in player selections.

Some players have an automatic place, and then there are some resurrections of some sort – Lazarus moments as it were.

The question that has not been answered over the years is the players’ agents factor. Is it true that some agents ensure, by hook or crook, that their players are selected for national duty?

There can never be a better moment to discuss this than now!
The Warriors’ back-to-back clash with the African champions, Algeria, in the AFCON qualifiers naturally raises the stakes.

And an appearance by any Warriors player against the likes of Riyad Mahrez, Said Benrahma, Ismael Bennacer and Yousef Atal, is life changing.

So, for how long will fans suffer heartbreaks all because a high-profile match is an opportunity for an undeserving player to get a life changing moment?

As the Warriors general manager Wellington Mpandare is busy on the ground with player invitations, we look at some questionable selections and omissions over the last few years.

Tatenda Mukuruva
The former Dynamos goalkeeper plays for Michigan Stars in a third tier league in US.

Amongst goalkeepers that are still in action for Zimbabwe, he has played more games at AFCON finals than any other.

He was the number one goalie under Kalisto Pasuwa when Zimbabwe qualified for the AFCON 2017, faced Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia at the finals.

Soon after those finals in Gabon, he was frozen out.

So, was a goalkeeper that was good enough to help the country qualify for AFCON, frustrate the likes of Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez, go off form overnight?

Was he not even good enough to be third choice for the past three years? And was his deputy Donovan Bernard not good enough to succeed him? Now that Mkuruva seems to be in the new coach’s plans, what has changed?

Silas Songani
Silas Songani is one rare case of a footballer that made it straight to Europe from the Zimbabwe PSL.

You did not need to be told that he was a gem during his Harare City days.

He enjoyed great moments in the national team as well under Germany coach Klaus Pagels. This is despite the fact that he was still playing in the PSL.

The departure of Pagels was also the end of his flirtation with the Warriors, despite the fact that he was now playing at a higher level in Denmark.

So, how did a player good enough to play in one of Europe’s elite football leagues suddenly become so bad that he could not fit into the Warriors set-up? Was there bad blood between Songani and the coaches that took over after Pagels? Was Songani’s manager More Moyo in a good relationship with Pasuwa and Chidzambwa?

There was a moment of reflection (even embarrassing) at the beginning of this season when despite all the snubbing he has faced, Songani made a mockery of the PSL standards in FC Platinum’s 2-0 win in the Castle Challenge Cup.

This is despite the fact that this is a player who is now way past his best.

Rumour has it that over the years, Khama Billiat has been a lone voice in questioning Songani’s omissions from the Warriors squad.

George Chigova
By European standards, George Chigova is perhaps Zimbabwe’s best goalkeeper – he has the right stature required of a goalkeeper and he has proved himself in the past.

Although he is far from perfect, he is undoubtedly one of the best three for Zimbabwe. Yet, this is a player whose appearances for the Warriors is seasonal.

Was Chigova not good enough for Kalisto Pasuwa’s team in 2017? What is it that Sunday Chidzambwa sees in the goalkeeper that other coaches don’t see? Will Logarusic have plans for him or this is another season off the picture?

Tino Kadewere
The story of Tino Kadewere is mind boggling.

It appears coaches never want to leave him out of the squad for fear of a possible public backlash – but he never plays.
He is just another squad player.

So, how can Zimbabwe explain to the rest of the world that their most expensive and highly ranked striker has just five caps to talk about? How will they explain that he is 24, gone to the AFCON twice, but can’t put 40 minutes together of action?

Nyasha Mushekwi
Who wants to bet? Nyasha Mushekwi might not even play a single qualifier, but if the Warriors qualify for the AFCON finals, he will be part of the party.

The joke in town has been that even a Mushekwi on one leg can even start one of the three group matches at the AFCON finals. It’s called ‘bet on that at your own peril’.

Take nothing away from Mushekwi, he is perhaps one of the best of his generation for the central forward position. And he is also the coaches’ common ground.

But one thing for certain is that some of Mushekwi’s selections have been downright questionable.

Ronald Pfumbidzai
Ronald Pfumbidzai is another puzzling case.

How often do you get a left back player that can contribute up to 20 assists in one season? Of course, he has tough competition from Divine Lunga. There is no question about that, but does this explain why he has been frozen out? Has Pfumbidzai’s relationship with some past coaches been that bad?

Is it about his discipline? Even if Divine is equally good, should he always not be divinely anointed to give Lunga cover?

There are many examples to talk about. But for now, we wait for the funny names that will follow this LOGARUSIC SEASON! Or perhaps, Lazarus moments for some deserving players. Nhau/Indaba