By Zim Sport Live Writer
Newly appointed Warriors’ coach Michael Nees from Germany promised to make an immediate impact as well as to achieve set targets as he begins his tenure in the country biggest football coach job.
Nees was announced by Zifa as the substantive coach for the senior men national team on Tuesday.
The 57-year-old German coach will look to guide the Warriors to the 2025 Morocco Afcon finals and to bring on track the country’s poor 2026 World Cup qualification campaign.
“I am a modern and innovative coach who is driven by international challenges and who can
think outside the box to gain a competitive advantage. Without a doubt, the Warriors always have great players and massive team potential, but they need to avoid being too predictable to
qualify for the FIFA World Cup and the African Cup of Nations,” he said.
“I am confident in achieving these
goals because I have the expertise to professionally enhance all major factors of performance and to make a difference within a short period. I will guide the national team with dedication and professionalism, and work to achieve a winning Zimbabwe that can make the nation proud,” added Nees.
Having been in charge of Seychelles and Rwanda in the past as well as a role as advisor for South Africa Football Association (SAFA), Nees is not new to African football.
Zifa announced the German’s in a press statement.
“The Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) is delighted to announce the appointment of Michael Nees as the new head coach of the Zimbabwe Men’s National Team. The 57-year-old German will lead the Warriors in their quest for success in the AFCON 2025 and
FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
“Michael Nees brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished background to the role. He holds a UEFA Pro Licence from Germany and an M.A. degree in Sports Science, Performance Physiology, and Ethnology from the prestigious University of Heidelberg. Additionally, he has acquired a coaching qualification in “Life Kinetik,” a unique training methodology introduced to football by former Liverpool FC manager Jürgen Klopp.
“Over the past 25 years, Michael Nees has held elite coaching and technical leadership positions across CAF, UEFA, and AFC. He has guided various national teams in over 200 international matches. Notably, in 2005 and 2006, he was part of the support staff for the England National Team during the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany, under the auspices of FIFA.
“Michael Nees’s extensive experience includes serving as the Head Coach of the Rwanda Senior Men’s National Team and the Director of Coaching and Education at the South African Football Association (SAFA). His deep knowledge of the African football landscape and his innovative approach are expected to provide a significant advantage in the upcoming AFCON qualification campaign,” Zifa said.
The Afcon qualifiers group stages are expected to begin early September and conclude in November
A total of 24 teams will qualify to play in the final tournament, including automatically-qualified hosts Morocco.
Zimbabwe are in Group J along with Cameroon, Namibia and Kenya.
Zifa Normalisation Committee chairperson Lincoln Mutasa believes Nees will bring success to the national team.
“ZIFA is confident that Michael Nees’s appointment will usher in a new era of success for the Warriors. His vast experience, combined with his innovative coaching style, makes him the ideal candidate to lead our national team to new heights,” he said.