I feel for him’: Chidzambwa highlights Catala’s biggest Warriors challenge

‘Former Warriors tactician Sunday Chidzambwa has highlighted the biggest challenge new coach Ramon Catala will face at the helm of the national team.

Chidzambwa says Catala’s biggest test will not be on the pitch, but managing the intense pressure and expectations that come with the Warriors job.

Ramon Catala with ZIFA president Nqobile Magwizi. Picture by Fanzone

Catala begins his tenure with little time to settle, with Zimbabwe’s 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign starting this Thursday away to Sierra Leone in Morocco. That will be followed by the Warriors homecoming match against DRC at the National Sports Stadium on Monday.

According to Chidzambwa, who has coached both Dynamos and the Warriors, the Spaniard will need more than tactics to survive. Chidzambwa believes it will be difficult to win the supporters hearts.

“I feel for him because it is really hard to be at the helm as a local coach. Imagine a foreigner who probably will have less of a support system, coming from the fans who themselves sometimes turn to be coaches,” Chidzambwa told Fanzone.

“All he needs is for the fans to rally behind him and believe in what he offers. He should treat each game as it comes, throwing out complacency because there are no pushovers in modern football.”

Catala inherits a Warriors side that has a poor shows at 2025 in Morocco having qualified to the continental showpiece seven time without progressing beyond the group stage.

The job has previously proved difficult for expatriate coaches including Zdravko Logarušić, Michael Nees and Marian Marinica.

Chidzambwa believes Catala’s immediate success will depend on how quickly he adapts to the local environment and wins the hearts of the supporters.

RELATED STORY: OPINION: I left Morocco with memories, the Warriors return with a mission