Warriors coach defends Chan squad
by Simba Mushati 30 December 2010, 12:51
Zimbabwe caretaker coach Madinda Ndlovu has vehemently defended his provisional squad for the African Nations Championship finals to be held in Sudan in February.
Ndlovu’s 30-man-squad announced on Wednesday has touched off a firestorm of criticism from the media, fans and even fellow Premier League coaches.
Moses Chunga of CAPS United, Shabanie Mine’s John Phiri and Shooting Stars’
Rodwell Dhlakama are some of the coaches who have blasted Ndlovu’s squad.
But the Black Mambas mentor insisted in an interview with SuperSport.com that those criticising his squad were forgetting to leave room for differences in opinion.
“You cannot please everyone. A different coach could perhaps have come up with different players because we see things differently.
“Besides, not every player on that list will make it to Sudan. All we are saying is we want to have a closer look at those players and select the ones we think can do a good job for the country,” Ndlovu said.
Some critics have been riled by the inclusion of little known defender Munyaradzi Mungadzi, who plays for Ziscosteel in the Central Region Division One.
Ndlovu however insisted he reserves the right to select a player “even from Division Four, as long as I am convinced that he is talented enough and can do a better job for Zimbabwe.”
The former Warriors winger argued that there can never be consensus on who are the best players in the Premiership.
He cited the controversy that often dogs the Soccer Stars of the year selection as evidence of the difficulty of coming up with a list that satisfies everyone.
Ndlovu has also been criticised for including three players from his side Mambas, which struggled for consistency and only survived relegation on the final day of the season.
The selection of Shooting Stars midfielder Tofirei Sambo, who has been hopping from one club to another over the past decade and is now clearly over the hill, has proved another sore spot.
Ndlovu has been thrown into the deep end following the Immigration Department’s refusal to grant former Namibian coach Tom Saintfiet a work permit.
Squad
Goalkeepers: W Arubi (Dynamos), T Dube (Gunners), T Sibanda Hwange, A Sibanda
(Highlanders)
Defenders: D Khanye, A Chivheya (both Lengthens), G Zhokinyu (Dynamos), D
Veremu, Q Amin (both Gunners) B Nyahunzvi (Black Mambas), D Boriwondo (Hwange),
G Mapemba (Caps United), Z Ngodzo (Highlanders), M Mungadzi (Ziscosteel)
Midfielders: C Chiutsa (Monomotapa), E Mudzingwa, J Ngodzo (both Highlanders), A
Amidu, I Madziva (both Black Mambas), B Ncube, A Gahadzikwa (Motor Action), B
Marere (Dynamos), D Mukamba (Kiglon), T Sambo (Shooting Stars), E Meleka
(Gunners)
Strikers: N Maroto (Gunners), C Sibanda (Motor Action), F Kanda (Highlanders), S
Sithole (Shooting Stars)
