MARONDERA- News of the recent appointment of Bulawayo giants, Highlanders
coach Baltemar Brito as the interim coach of Zimbabwe’s senior men’s soccer team,
the Warriors was received with mixed reactions by football fans in Marondera.
Brito, who led the Warriors squad composed of local-based players in an invitational
match to celebrate Botswana’s Independence Day celebrations on September 30,
has demonstrated that he is among the best coaches leading teams in the Castle
Lager Premier Soccer League as his side, Highlanders are currently in the top four.
The team that he took to Botswana comprised talented players from various
prominent teams in the current Zimbabwe premiership football competition, including
Ngezi Platinum, Highlanders, Manica Diamonds, Dynamos, and others.
The Portuguese national who was once an assistant to popular Italian Serie A side
AS Roma coach Jose ‘The Special One’ Mourinho was appointed by the Zimbabwe
Football Association (ZIFA) Normalisation Committee.
Former Zimbabwe international midfielder Clemence Matawu was appointed the new
team manager for the Warriors on a short-term contract, taking over from Wellington
Mpandare.
In addition to Matawu’s appointment, the ZIFA Normalisation Committee announced
the appointment of Simba Bhora goalkeepers coach, Zivanai Kawadza as Warriors
goalkeepers coach while Brito’s assistant at Highlanders, Antonio Jao Martins Leao
Torres who also doubles as his translator, was tasked to operate as the fitness and
conditioning coach.
Football fans who reacted to the appointment of Brito had mixed feelings over the
new Warriors coach.
Some felt the appointment was a right step in the right direction as the coach has
shown that he can improve any side following his exploits with Highlanders while
others were of the opinion that the ZIFA Normalisation Committee should have gone
for a local coach who knows the national team players well and is well-versed with
the political dynamics of the local game.
“By appointing Brito who has demonstrated that he can do well in the dugout, ZIFA
have done a good thing. This coach has the required experience as has been
exposed to various leagues in his career. After being given the Highlanders job, he
has been able to make the team compete at a high level again,” Timothy Sisamala of
Cherutombo said.
His sentiments were echoed by Henry Fore from Dombotombo who felt the coach
must be given adequate support to do his job.
He said: “I see nothing wrong in the appointment of Brito as our national senior
men’s soccer team. I think ZIFA did their research well and came out with the best
possible candidate available to take up the job. We must all rally behind him because
he is capable of producing possible results with the Warriors and take us to another
finals of international competitions.”
However, Vengesai Mapako was of the opinion that the language barrier could
become the major undoing of the coach.
“Brito might be a good coach but I personally don’t feel that he was the best
candidate for the job. His Highlanders Football Club is no longer as consistent as
they had become some weeks ago and the language barrier could have negative
effects on how he does his job,” Mapako said.
Brito will coach the Warriors until June 30 next year and he will be assisted by
Bongani Mafu and Genesis Mangombe to prepare the national football team for the
2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers which kicks off in November.
