17 Years, Four Coaches, Three Wins: Here is How Much ZIFA Has Spent on Foreign Coaches

17 Years, Four Coaches, Three Wins: Here is How Much ZIFA Has Spent on Foreign Coaches

ZIFA’s long-running experiment with foreign coaches has proven an expensive lesson.

In the past 17 years, the association has reportedly spent nearly US$1 million on four expatriate coaches — Valinhos, Klaus Dieter Pagels, Zdravko Logarusic, and Michael Nees — yet the Warriors have managed just three victories in competitive matches under their leadership.

The four coaches’ combined record includes wins only against Botswana and Namibia, despite millions spent on salaries, allowances, and other expenses.

Also Read: Do You Qualify? ZIFA Lists Qualifications and Experience Required for Warriors Head Coach Job

The Price of Failed Appointments

According to H-Metro, the actual cost of hiring, maintaining, and compensating the four foreign coaches — including travel and upkeep — stands at US$991,000.

The biggest financial blow came when ZIFA failed to pay Belgian coach Tom Saintfiet, who had been deported after holding just one training session with the Warriors.

His contract termination led to Zimbabwe’s disqualification from the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, with Saintfiet awarded US$181,000 in compensation by FIFA.

A String of Poor Results

Each of the foreign coaches struggled to deliver meaningful results:

Valinhos recorded only one win in ten matches — a 2–0 victory over Namibia at Rufaro Stadium.
Pagels failed to register a single win during his 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, suffering defeats to Egypt (1–2 in Cairo and 2–4 in Harare) and Guinea (0–1).
Zdravko Logarusic (Loga) managed just one victory, beating Botswana 1–0 in Francistown.
Michael Nees, the latest in the line, also managed to defeat only Namibia, and is now set to receive a handsome compensation payout despite going winless in the past 12 months.

The Harsh Reality

In summary, Zimbabwe’s 17-year investment in foreign coaches has yielded little return — three wins against two opponents and nearly a million dollars in expenditure.

The trend has reignited debate within football circles over whether ZIFA should prioritize local coaching talent rather than continue relying on costly foreign appointments that have failed to lift the Warriors’ fortunes.