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THE Warriors’ World Cup qualifier loss to South Africa on Tuesday evening was appalling, to say the least. The performance of the team was a disgrace, with no spirit or cohesion in what was a crucial match. The performance was disjointed, and the coach looked clueless in this fiasco that was probably the worst we have ever seen from the national team.

It was disheartening to witness such a lackadaisical attitude on the field, especially in a game of such significance.

The Warriors had a chance to showcase their abilities and redeem themselves from an embarrassing 2-0 defeat by Lesotho in their previous game. However, what the team displayed against Bafana Bafana was far from the quality expected from a national team. The players looked like they had not trained together, with no cohesion, no communication, and no clear objective.

Coach Jairos Tapera looked lost and clueless on the touchline, and this was probably one of the main reasons why the team was so disorganised. It was evident that the players were not tactically drilled, and there was no clear game plan. Tapera did not seem to have the ability to read the game, and his 90th minute substitutions were baffling with the team 3-1 down.

The coach approached the match like a Premier Soccer League fixture and lacked the tactics and a game plan required to compete at an international level.

Apart from the poor performance, what was even more concerning was the lack of spirit in the team. The players appeared defeated long before the final whistle. Needing a goal to get back into the game, there was no urgency or passion from the players. They seemed to have given up hope, an attitude that was disheartening to watch. It seemed as though only Tawanda Chirewa understood the assignment.

The team’s performance was not only disappointing for fans of the national team, but it was also a disservice to football in our country as a whole. The team was competing at an international level and portraying not only themselves, but the country on a global stage. The lack of coordination and spirit displayed by the players was an embarrassment to our country.

It is essential that the Zifa Normalisation Committee takes a hard look at itself and address the problems that have beset the national team. The necessary changes must be made, including looking for a competent coach who can motivate the team. Only then can we hope for a better future for Zimbabwe football. This haphazard approach to crucial assignments is unacceptable.