Zimbabwe’s coach Michael Nees announces his first Warriors squad: What to expect

CHENGETAI NYAMUSHONYONGORA*

HARARE – Newly appointed Warriors head coach Michael Nees has named his first squad just four days after being unveiled by ZIFA. With back-to-back AFCON 2025 Qualifier matches against Kenya and Cameroon on the horizon, Nees has called up 23 players, including eight locally based talents and several others from African leagues and Europe.

Newly appointed Warriors coach Michael Nees hits the ground running, selects his squad for AFCON 2025 Qualifiers 

Notably, veteran defender Teenage Hadebe was selected despite being unattached after leaving Turkish side Konyaspor, and Brendan Galloway returns to the squad after missing the last national assignments due to injury. 38-year-old Washington Arubi, who recently moved to Marumo Gallants, also re-joins the team after years of absence on the national scene.

Nees impressed journalists during his unveiling. He was officially confirmed as head coach on 30 July 2024 and unveiled on four days ago, but it appears he had already begun preparations behind the scenes. 

The German revealed that already he reached out to 25 players to assess their fitness and readiness to represent Zimbabwe. He was eloquent. He demonstrated his knowledge of the game during the press conference, which impressed both fans and journalists.

Nees acknowledged the challenges of coaching the Zimbabwean national team and the reality of playing without desired resources but emphasized the need to start afresh, find and exploit the team’s strengths over the weeknesses

Tactical insight

Zimbabwe has struggled to establish a consistent playing style over the years, largely due to the frequent changes in head coaches. 25 coaches have presided over the senior men’s team in the last 20 years. During an interview with ZiFM Sports, Nees revealed that the team has been predictable in recent games and vowed implement his own ideas and do things differently. 

Although his tactical approach remains to be seen, Nees is likely to be using adaptive coaching strategies which focus on leveraging the squad's strengths and exploiting the opponent’s weaknesses during the course of the match.

Under Jairos Tapera, the Warriors’ playing style lacked coherence. The team often relied on long balls and wing play. Tapera's predecessor, Baltermar Brito, had started to build a compact 4-4-2 system that build from the defensive solidity and speed in attack. Nees' approach will soon be tested in the upcoming matches against Kenya and Cameroon.

Tawanda Chirewa: Player to watch

20-year-old Wolves midfielder Tawanda Chirewa stole the show and scored his first international goal for Zimbabwe during the loss to South Africa in the last FIFA World Cup Qualifiers.

His performances did not only grab the attention of Warriors fans but also wowed neutrals and South African supporters. Playing as a second striker in front of a midfield 4 anchored by a double pivot of Marshal Munetsi and Andy Rinomhota, Chirewa brought a different dynamic to the attack. 

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He displayed a level of guile, creativity, confidence, and flair that the national team has not seen since the retirement of Ovidy Karuru, Knowledge Musona, and Khama Billiat.

However, Cardiff City's Andy Rinomhota can also play as a number 10, so it remains to be seen whether the same midfield trio will be used or if Chirewa will be pushed to the wing. Could Chirewa’s rise be Zimbabwe's version of Spain’s 16-year-old star, Lamin Yamal?

Tawanda Maswanhise can be Nees’ wildcard

21-year-old Tawanda Maswanhise is on a mission to revive his career. He made an immediate impact in Scotland when he came on as a substitute for his debut, inspiring his new team Motherwell to victory against Kilmarnock. 

In his second appearance, Maswanhise displayed his pace and tenacity, shaking defenders which earned him praise from his new boss, Stewart Kettlewell, after both matches.

Despite rising through the ranks at his boyhood club Leicester City, where he made a name for himself in the 2019/20 U18 Premier League 2 where he scored a plethora of goals, Maswanhise struggled to break into the senior team. 

His career seemed poised to take off when he was named on the bench for Leicester’s match against Manchester United at Old Trafford in 2021. However, his progress stalled. He received his full senior debut nearly four years later under former boss Enzo Maresca, who has since left for Chelsea.

Now, Maswanhise is determined to prove his worth and show the world what he can do. Nees can capitalize on his form and newfound determination, using it to the team's advantage.

The return of Brendan Galloway is a welcome boost

Teenage Hadebe has been a free agent since leaving Turkish side Konyaspor in July. Without training or playing for any team since, he may not be match-fit and could play a limited role compared to his previous involvements.

However, the return of 28-year-old Brendan Galloway could provide a significant boost to Zimbabwe's defense. Although Galloway scored an own goal in Plymouth Argyle’s 4-0 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday and was rested during a 3-0 loss in the EFL Cup first round against Cheltenham, his performance improved when Plymouth drew 1-1 against Hull City.

Despite a turbulent start to the season under new boss Wayne Rooney, Galloway is match-fit and is expected to contribute significantly to the defense.

Verdict

This squad is largely inherited, as most players were part of Jairos Tapera’s team. Many of these call-ups were likely suggested by ZIFA Technical Director Jethro Hunidzarira, who could have emphasized continuity, which benefits various developmental areas within the team.

Perhaps, the next squad may accurately reflect Nees' ideas and philosophy. He is likely to retain players who impress him in the upcoming matches, drop those who struggle to implement his tactics, and integrate emerging talents as the season progresses.

Michael Nees is not a mainstream coach. He brings a unique profile that may not draw immediate attention or create high expectations for instant results, providing him with space to work. However, football is unforgiving, and Zimbabwean football fans are eager for victories—at all costs.

Below is the Warriors’ squad: 

*Chengetai Nyamushonyongora writes here in his personal capacity.