The Sunday News
NEWLY appointed Warriors Callisto Pasuwa believes he can take on the double job of coaching the senior national team and the Under-23 side, which he has been leading since late last year.
Zifa officially announced Pasuwa’s elevation to the Zimbabwe Warriors portfolio this week, tasking the former Dynamos gaffer to lead the representative side into the 2015 Cosafa Cup, which begins on 17 May, Caf Under-23 Championship qualifiers against Swaziland on the weekend of 22-24 May and the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers that begin in June.
Pasuwa told Sunday News Sport that he was ready to take on the two jobs and the task would not be too difficult as the focus was on using the Under-23 players to build a future squad for the national team.
He, however, bemoaned the challenges that he has had to face in his short stint as the Under-23 coach adding he would need more co-operation from the team and Zifa to ensure he succeeded in his job.
“It is unfortunate I have had to face several challenges in my job the first being a resistance from teams to release players and this has forced us to use different sets of players for the various assignments that we have undertaken so far.
“In the friendlies against Botswana and Swaziland and our All-Africa Games qualifier against Cameroon we used different players and for the Caf Under-23 championships we have also been forced to call up a different set of players and this affects continuity and building one clear team,” said the four-time Zimbabwe championship winning coach.
Pasuwa also said Zifa’s financial crisis was having a negative impact on his job as preparations were shoddy with little time being availed for camping due to unavailability of resources.
He said while Swaziland had already started preparing for their tie later this month, the Young Warriors were yet to meet even for a single practice session although he had requested one, including preparations for the Cosafa Cup.
“Yes these are the challenges that we have but we have to work within those limits but my appeal is to teams to release players because if challenges become too many and we adopt adhoc solutions we are unlikely to succeed,” said Pasuwa.
On the Afcon campaign, Pasuwa said while he has been tasked to use more Young Warriors there was a need to include seasoned players, adding it would be folly for one to rely on young players although the Under-23s would make the bulk of the senior team.
This year’s Cosafa senior men’s challenge will run from 17 to 30 May in South Africa.
If Zimbabwe overcomes Swaziland in the Caf Under-23 Championship qualifiers they will face South Africa and a win will see them make the cut for the tourney that is used to select Africa’s representatives in the Olympics.
Caf U-23 Championship Qualifier Squad
Tatenda Mkuruva (Dynamos), Takabva Mawaya (Hwange), Blessing Moyo (Dynamos), Tapiwa Pfumbidzai (Caps United), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Munyaradzi Nyenye (Harare City), Teenage Hadebe (Highlanders), Liberty Chakoroma (Buffaloes), John Takwara (Tsholotshio), Wisdom Mtasa (FC Platinum), Nqobizitha Masuku (Highlanders), Malvin Gaki (Triangle), Carlos Rusere (Dynamos), Mgcini Sibanda (How Mine), Jimmy Kanono (Whawha), Livingstone Genti (Whawha), Kelvin Moyo (FC Platinum), Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Thomas Chideu (Highlanders), Tatenda Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Prichard Mpelele (Hwange)
Cosafa senior challenge squad
George Chigova (SuperSport, SA), Bernad Donovan (How Mine), Tatenda Munditi (Harare City), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Douglas Sibanda (Highlanders), Justice Jangano (Gunners), Godknows Murwira (Dynamos), Ralph Kawondera (Flame Lily), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Thomas Magorimbo (ZPC Kariba), Raphael Manuvire (ZPC Kariba), Ronald Chitiyo (Dynamos), Tichaona Chipunza (Triangle), Edmore Chirambadare (Chicken Inn), Talent Chawapiwa (Harare City), Evans Rusike (Hwange)
