Madinda speaks out

By Ricky Zililo in The Chronicle
ZIMBABWE senior national soccer team co-coach Madinda Ndlovu said the Warriors could achieve a lot if there was unity of purpose.
Ndlovu and Norman Mapeza led the Warriors that drew 0-0 against Cape Verde in a 2012 Afcon qualifier match that was played at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Chronicle Sport last night, Ndlovu said he was open to working with anyone who Zifa will appoint as the national team coach.
He said the Warriors technical team on Sunday was determined to come up with a winning formula but it was unfortunate that the team drew.
“As an assistant coach, I will work with anyone who is appointed as the national team coach. I believe we can achieve a lot if there is unity of purpose. There is a need to work together so that we can achieve a lot.
“I did not see anything wayward in our camp. What I saw was a technical team that wanted a plan to conquer,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu and Mapeza took charge of the Warriors team after Belgian Tom Saintfiet was deported pending his getting a work permit.
Responding to allegations that he was taking instructions from Saintfiet, Ndlovu refuted that and said whatever he did was to serve the nation.
“I do not understand why I should be labelled names and stuff. People have to swallow their pride and understand that I am a Zimbabwean, I played for a Zimbabwean club Highlanders, served my country before, when I played for the Zimbabwe national team.
“Tom had a good football programme. We worked very well before he left and afterwards I and Norman took over. You cannot achieve results by remote control in football. Only a game plan is what wins you games and that is what we tried to come up with Norman,” said Ndlovu.
Ndlovu, better known as Khathazile during his heyday, was capped 20 times in the national Under-20 and got 60 caps for the senior national team and scored about a dozen goals.
He is a holder of German B Licence which he acquired in 1990 and a Caf C Licence he got last year.
Ndlovu was the best practical and overall student of the first Caf C Licence that was held in Harare last year.
He is a living Zimbabwe soccer legend with several children born in the 1980s nicknamed or named after him. He was a cult hero.
He won virtually everything Zimbabwe had to offer from the BAT Rosebowl, Chibuku Trophy, Castrol Heroes Cup, Independence, Rothmans Shield and the league title in 1993 all with Highlanders.