Over 17 years, the Zimbabwe Football Association has spent nearly US$1 million on four foreign coaches—Valinhos, Klaus Dieter Pagels, Zdravko Logarusic, and Michael Nees—but the national team recorded only three competitive wins under their leadership. Those victories came against Botswana and Namibia.
The total cost, including salaries, travel, and allowances, reached US$991,000. The expense included a US$181,000 FIFA-ordered payout to Tom Saintfiet after his abrupt deportation following one training session, which also led to Zimbabwe’s disqualification from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Valinhos won once in ten matches. Pagels lost all his games. Logarusic and Nees each secured a single win. Nees has gone winless in the past 12 months but will still receive a compensation package.
The costly trend has sparked calls for ZIFA to invest in qualified local coaches who have historically delivered better results despite fewer resources and lower profiles.
The total cost, including salaries, travel, and allowances, reached US$991,000. The expense included a US$181,000 FIFA-ordered payout to Tom Saintfiet after his abrupt deportation following one training session, which also led to Zimbabwe’s disqualification from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Valinhos won once in ten matches. Pagels lost all his games. Logarusic and Nees each secured a single win. Nees has gone winless in the past 12 months but will still receive a compensation package.
The costly trend has sparked calls for ZIFA to invest in qualified local coaches who have historically delivered better results despite fewer resources and lower profiles.
