Head coach of the Zimbabwe national male team, Zdravko Logarusic, has “blocked” players who “blue-ticked” him and previously ignored calls up to the national team.
According to the former Kumasi Asante Kotoko head coach, all the players who ignored his call-up message during the AFCON qualifiers won’t have a place in his team at the Mundial in Cameroon next year.
He noted that he will instead reward the players who fought hard to earn the country’s qualification, as well as eliminating opportunists who may want to use the AFCON as a way to further their careers.
“Now that we have qualified for AFCON I am seeing their replies but I have also blueticked and blocked them,” he said.
Zimbabwe secured a ticket to next year’s competition to be hosted by Cameroon after Perfect Chikwende netted inside 15 minutes to give Zimbabwe a 1-0 win over Botswana at Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown.
The victory saw Zimbabwe qualify from Group H with eight points, three behind leaders and defending champions, Algeria who drew 3-3 with Zambia in the last round of group matches.
This comes as welcome relief to Warriors coach, Logarusic, who was facing criticism following the Warriors’ disastrous show at CHAN 2021 where they lost all their three matches.
In taking Zimbabwe to the AFCON, Logarusic becomes the first foreign manager to take the Warriors through to the continental showpiece.