HARARE – Former Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner, Winfried Schafer is reportedly the favourite to become the new Zimbabwe Warriors substantive coach.
The 74-year old German gaffer is among five foreign coaches shortlisted by the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) for interviews as the search for the Warriors substantive coach continues.
Consequently, Schaffer is rumoured to be the favourite to land the job after his CV impressed FIFA bosses since the international football governing body is set to pay the Warriors’ coach salaries.
It is widely reported that FIFA budgeted US$150 000 per annum to pay the Warriors coach.
The ageing European gaffer won the prestigious AFCON competition with Cameroon back in 2002.
Other four candidates shortlisted by ZIFA for the job include Gerard Nus from Spain Michael Nees and Antoine Hey both from Germany as well as Marcio Maximo Barcellos from Brazil.
In a statement issued Tuesday, ZIFA who are aiming to finalise the interview process by the 29th of July confirmed:
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is pleased to provide an update on the ongoing recruitment process for the Zimbabwe Men’s National Team Head Coach. After an exhaustive search and meticulous selection process, the following applicants have been interviewed for the position:
Gerard Nus
Michael Nees
Marcio Maximo Barcellos
Antoine Hey
Winfried Schäfer
“The preliminary interviews were conducted yesterday, Monday, 22 July. The second round of interviews is scheduled to take place over the next few days, ensuring a thorough evaluation of each candidate’s qualifications, vision, and ability to lead our national team to new heights.
“In parallel, ZIFA is diligently working on compiling the shortlist for the Mighty Warriors Head Coach position. The interview process for this role is set to be completed by Monday, 29 July.
“ZIFA remains committed to appointing the most qualified and capable coaches to lead our national teams. We believe that these appointments will significantly contribute to the development and success of Zimbabwean football on the international stage.”
The much anticipated gaffer is set to take charge of the Warriors in the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers scheduled to start in September.
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