Mhlauri speaks on Logarusic

Zifa’s surprise decision to name journeyman Croat Zdravko Logarušic as the new substantive Warriors coach has sparked intense debate. United States-based gaffer Charles Mhlauri, ( CM) the man who took the Warriors to the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and won the 2005 Cosafa Cup with a locally assembled senior team, spoke to The Sunday Mail Sports Editor Petros Kausiyo ( PK) about Logarusic’s appointment. This is what he had to say . . .

PK: What is your take on the new Warriors coach appointment?

CM: My belief is that you need to have a new coach in place before the qualifier games in order to give the coach ample time to prepare and build a team based on his philosophy. Zifa are trying to do their best in a difficult situation. Football is all about culture. As a coach, you will need to understand your players to get the best out of them. However, I cannot comment much on the candidature out of respect to the selecting committee and Zifa in general.

All we need is someone who will add value based on his experience and qualifications. I do not know the new coach, but he will need some time to understand the culture and get to know the players. That complicates the timing, but is probably necessary due to the events at hand.

It’s a process for the coach to get to understand and know his players’ technical and tactical strengths and weaknesses. That may mean the team could face some challenges in the games, not because the coach is failing but because he is also getting to understand the resources at his disposal, both human and financial, as well as the culture. I am sure Zifa will admit that this is not the best timing for changes. However, they found it necessary after some careful consideration.

I have read that Logarusic is a pro-licensed coach, that is a perfect qualification. However, I am a little bit concerned that among some of his touted achievements is finishing third at CHAN. With all due respect, that is lowering the bar. But what matters at the end of the day is his experience at national team level or other better leagues in the world.

PK: What grey areas would you want to be cleared on this whole issue?

CM: I would want to hear more on what he did in Croatia — “the Brazilians of Europe” — to better formulate my opinion on his major achievements.

I also want to understand the set-up of our interviewing committee (the Zifa technical and development committee) and what motivated them to settle for him. That is a critical element in laying the first brick. I would also want to hear more from the selection committee and also understand its composition. We need to have people who know what type of coach our country needs. At times the candidate could also be defined by the resources available.

PK: What impact could this appointment have on the national game?

CM: The coach has been appointed, let’s give him a chance and all the support. I can’t give a trajectory right now since I do not know the coach. However, if he is supported and knows his game, there is potential to lay a new foundation.

PK: What is your view on fears that Zifa’s history of struggling to pay national coaches could affect Logarušic’s tenure with the Warriors?

CM: I am also still in the queue to be paid. I am past the belief that soccer federations can fully fund the domestic game in Africa. We cannot separate the current socio-economic situation in the country from football development and football administration. My take is that Zifa and the Government have to work together if we are to make it on the international scale. It’s a joke to think that Zifa can fund national team events from gate takings.

There was Leo Mugabe, Vincent Pamire, Rafiq Khan, Philip Chiyangwa, Wellington Nyatanga, Cuthbert Dube and now Felton Kamambo. We are still in the woods when it comes to funding national teams. The national game cannot be funded by gate takings, period.

PK: Is it not imperative for Zifa to be ingenious on funding issues, instead of just waiting for the Government to do it?

CM: Yes, Zifa have to keep building their brand if they are to get something from the corporate world. I want to make it clear, most companies have closed, some factories are now churches. It will be a pipedream to expect much from the corporate world when most companies are fighting for survival.

In most countries, even in the developed world, it’s common to see football matters spilling into Parliament. The Government needs to get involved big time to help save the game.

Zifa also need to offer what they can afford and or hire coaches that are affordable. It’s embarrassing to see a nation being taken to court for failing to pay a coach.

PK: Having coached the Warriors at the Afcon, what are some of the weaknesses you noted, those that are still prevalent in the team?

CM: The significant mistakes in Egypt were lack of structures, resources and meaningful preparatory games. The game is always moving forward. The major problem is the lack of technical direction for football development in the country. We are still reacting to every moment. We need to see our technical director (TD) as the most critical person in our game so that he can implement and manage the structures.

I know there is a whole Bible of issues lacking with regards to the TD. We need to focus on long-term planning, building the grassroots (juniors), building developmental structures and building a transparent national team feeder system, right from provincial teams at each age group to senior national teams. Some countries are already focused on the 2026/2030 national team competitions.

This is the responsibility of the technical director and Zifa. This is where we lack. Our TD should be supported to implement a national programme. Our education system should be used aggressively to help support and develop football growth in the country. I would like to see our coaches’ association taking a leading role in football matters, especially in coach education and making sure that we have a structure at every level and in every province. National team games are the next level up from club league games. In that regard, it is far advanced than club games for the most part.

There is little room for mistakes as you are competing with players playing in the best leagues in the world. Space is limited and the ball moves a lot faster. Speed of play is high and you have to be tactically disciplined and have a lot of character.

At that level, it becomes a game of errors, and the team that makes the most mistakes is punished. That’s how you lose games. Yet at club level, you can get away with some mistakes.

PK: Could the fact that the new coach has very little experience with national teams have any bearing in this scenario?

CM: Well, the experience is essential, but it is not the only factor. He is qualified and has coached football, so he has some tools, I believe.