Warriors coach Michael Nees is fretting following the end of the 2024 PSL season, raising concern that it will be difficult to monitor his Warriors stars' fitness during the off-season.
After sealing Afcon qualification, Nees' focus is on salvaging the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualification hopes where The Warriors have only managed two points in four matches.
They face Benin and Nigeria on March 17 and 24, respectively, in Group C of the qualifiers.
But Nees is already a worried man.
For him, the end of the 2024 PSL season presents a big challenge as his scope on local players becomes limited until league resumption next year.
Nees has banked on locals Khama Billiat, Godknows Murwira, Walter Musona, Emmanuel Jalai, Martin Mapisa, Tymon Machope and Brian Banda for the Warriors squad.
However, all of them will not be playing until next year, when the league resumes around March.
“December has uncertainty, we don't know yet when the players are going to be available for us. Basically, we have three groups of players, those outside of Africa, players in South Africa and players here in Zimbabwe,” he said.
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"We need to know in order to plan. When are these players available? And to make a quick decision, I can plan a camp tomorrow, but it can only be done if we know. Clearly, we must all pull in one direction to try and turn the ship around in the World Cup qualification.
“We are in the last position. And when we select players, we need players that are match fit, at least having played three or four league matches."
Headded: "It's not all lost (in the World Cup qualifiers). The situation is not at its best and we have to turn it around in the home match against Benin and then against Nigeria.
"Nigeria are really wounded and you cannot predict how they will turn out. So we need to try everything possible to win.
"The worry for me is that the league starts normally at the end of March and qualification games are in March. And players without league match fitness, it's a big issue, big problem.
"For me there are two options, to do the camp with local players before March matches, or the league should start in the beginning of March so that they have at least three games. It’s a big concern. Match fitness in serious games is a key issue.”
