Antipas revels at Warriors appointment

Mukudzei Chingwere

Newly appointed Zimbabwe national senior men’s soccer team head coach Joey Antipas is celebrating his latest appointment.

The Zimbabwe Football Association had to forego the choice of a foreign coach and settled for an experienced hand, and fans favourite, for the national team coach job.

Antipas has previously worked with the national team as assistant coach in two different stints, but concedes the latest appointment was a dream come true. 

“First and foremost I am honoured to be appointed coach of my country. It does not matter it is on a caretaker basis, but being appointed Zimbabwe coach is something I greatly appreciate and I want to do the very best in this new role,” he said.

The Chicken Inn trainer is under no allusions as to the weight of hope placed on his tactical wits by an expectant nation, which has of late been starved of football success.

“Most importantly we have to bring results, the country is craving for success and we have to do wonders to quickly bring that success,” said Antipas.

His immediate challenge is to progress beyond Somalia in the preliminary round of the World Cup qualifiers next month, as well as leading the team to the 2020 African Nations Championship finals.