Game On Reporter
WHEN South Africa appointed Hugo Broos as Bafana Bafana coach on May 5, 2021, a Croat gaffer called Zdravco Logarusic was still in charge of neighbours Zimbabwe.
Broos was mandated to take South Africa back to the World Cup, a feat he has now achieved with Bafana Bafana who will take part at the 2026 finals in USA, Mexico and Canada in June.
South Africa are returning to the World Cup finals for the first time since 2022.
While the South African Football Association retained faith in the Belgian gaffer, Zimbabwe has changed coaches several times in the last five years.
Since Logarusic’s departure, five coaches have taken turns to supervise the Warriors, an alarming rate of one coach per year.
Norman Mapeza, Baltemar Brito, Jairos Tapera, Michael Nees and Marian Marinica have taken charge.
Marinica resigned on Monday, with former Warriors defender Kaitano Tembo immediately thrust into the hot seat and becoming the sixth coach to take charge of Zimbabwe.
Tembo will be in charge when Zimbabwe play in the Unity Cup in England in May.
The massive coach turnover has caused some concerns among fans and analysts.
“Obviously continuity is compromised when you hire and fire coaches,” Nomsa Mangena, a Warriors fan told Game-On.
Traditionally, the Zimbabwe Football Association has failed to retain coaches for longer periods.
Even before Logarusic, a number of coaches took charge in very short periods of time.
“Sometimes it shows some lack of seriousness on the part of ZIFA.
“The association has to be thorough when it comes to selection of coaches because if you go for mickey mouse coaches then you will fire them in no time,” added Mangena.
Another fan, Peter Masamba, is still questioning Marinica’s decision to quit in a huff.
The Romanian gaffer was spotted at Rufaro on Sunday watching the game between Dynamos and ZPC Kariba.
He was even taking notes with the Unity Cup in mind.
It is not clear why Marinica left his post but sources claim it had to do with team selection.
“We need stability at national level,” said Masamba.
“If you look at countries like France, they have had one coach Didier Deschamps since before 2018.
“Yet as Zimbabwe we have appointed several coaches in the last five years,” added Masamba.
