‘The problem is discipline’
best defenders in the country, no doubt about that. We have different quality in our team. Our keeper is 30 years old, he is a very good guy for a coach to work with, his attitude is good. His only problem is that he is sometimes too relaxed. Prince Dube is top quality but needs to change his mentality and l have been talking to him about that.”
“Talent alone is not enough, you need discipline and the right attitude and mentality. Right now Christiano Ronaldo has been at the top level for fifteen years because he has the right mentality, attitude and good training.”
“After training with the squad, he stays behind and trains on his own practising free kicks and corner kicks that is what makes the difference. We need to have our players doing the same. Players must be at the training early, fifteen minutes before the start of a session everyone must be ready to train. Also discipline does not refer to the players alone but to the organisation of the club as a whole. Everyone needs to do their duty and do it well from the chairman downwards,” he said.
De Jongh says the Zimbabwe Premier league has potential to become one of the top leagues in the continent but the major problem is the lack of discipline and organisation in the football structures.
“In Rwanda you have two teams chasing the title, other teams are not on a good level. In Kenya you have five competitive teams but only two or three of those are title contenders. The league in Kenya has improved.”
“In my opinion the Swaziland league is very poor. In Zimbabwe you have about eight teams that are all favourites to win the title at the start of the season. You have Highlanders, Dynamos, Caps United, FC Platinum, Ngezi, ZPC Kariba, Triangle and Chicken Inn all in the running to win the title. The league is not easy; those teams are playing for the title every season.”
“I will give you an example when the Zimbabwe national team went to Afcon there was chaotic organisation. Players must only focus on training and playing not administrative issues. It is not only Zimbabwe, we saw it with Cameroon and other African countries that’s where Africa gets it wrong,” he said.
Highlanders will take on TelOne in a league encounter at Barbourfileds Stadium this Sunday.
— @innocentskizoe ZIMBABWE’s Total Caf Champions League representatives FC Platinum were yesterday bullish and unfazed by their Group B opponents, declaring that a quarter-final berth was possible.
The mini league phase draw was conducted in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday evening and the two-times Zimbabwean champions were drawn alongside Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia, Al Ahly of Egypt and Al Hilal of Sudan respectively.
Pure Platinum Play, who had a winless run in the last Champions League campaign under Norman Mapeza where they managed only two draws against South African giants Orlando Pirates, get their campaign underway with an away trip to Sudanese champions Al Hilal at the end of next month.
The hugely supported North East of Africa based side has 15 domestic league titles and have made 33 Champions League appearances, reaching semifinal stages a number of times with the last being in 2015. However, they were last in the group stages of the tournament in 2017. Coached by former Senegalese international Lamine Ndiaye, Al Hilal were knocked out in the first round of the competition in 2018 and at the previous campaign, the 2018-19 when Caf changed the season format of the competition.
FC Platinum are however aware of the financial implications of the draw which might see them even connecting flights from Dubai or Italy.
“Tough opponents, long trips involved and