IN the heart of the capital Harare where the crowds once trekked to the National Sports Stadium to watch Zimbabwe’s football national team matches, 76-year-old dedicated football fan Tichaona Kenge sits pensively at his home in Waterfalls.
Kenge’s thoughts drift back to a time when the national team was an example of hope and pride.
For the past few years, Kenge has watched with growing disappointment as the national team's performance has declined.
The once-vibrant spirit that characterised the team has faded, replaced by a sense of apathy and disinterest.
"We are only left with the name ‘Warriors’ but we no longer have football in Zimbabwe,” said Kenge in Shona as he expressed his feelings in an interview with The Sports Hub.
“I want to believe that there is little passion as compared to the old days when the squad had players like Peter Ndlovu, Joel Luphahla and Tinashe Nengomashe among other legends,” Tichaona recalled.
He recalled the exciting moments when the team would secure a victory, the jubilant celebrations that would follow, and the sense of unity that would sweep across all the ten provinces of Zimbabwe.
But those days seem like a distant memory now, replaced by a growing sense of frustration and disappointment.
Kenge believes that the decline in the team's performance can be attributed to a number of factors, including lack of investment in grassroots football, the absence of strong leadership within the football association, and a decline in the quality of players.
In June, the Warriors lost 2-0 to Lesotho before their second consecutive loss in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers Group C campaign after losing 3-1 to South Africa.
The match was played at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
The warriors played their first away game in Group J in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifying games against Kenya last Friday in Kampala, Uganda which ended in a goalless draw. Zimbabwe will “host” Cameroon on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) normalisation committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa acknowledged that the old days of former warriors' captain Ndlovu and his team mates were electric and entertaining.
Mutasa said there was a need to improve on administrative issues to create a favourable environment for the players.
“We also have a new coach (Michael Nees) who could get the best out of our players,” he said.
“So, we hope this is the beginning of a new cycle for us where the players will grab the opportunity to be the next Ndlovu, Moses Chunga, George Shaya and more.”
In an interview, former Warriors skipper Ndlovu said he expected to see the team that has a deep understanding of what the coach wants.
He added that Zimbabweans should stop making the warriors feel pressured due to their negative comments.
Former Zimbabwe Saints and Warriors midfielder Ronald ‘Gidiza’ Sibanda said the players needed to deliver their best ever performance so that the new head coach can have a clear picture on team selection going forward.
“Of Course, there is a very huge difference during our time and now, a lot of things are happening in Zimbabwe football,” Sibanda.
“Even money issues are proving to be another problem in our present-day football. Yes, we wanted money during our time but we were also passionate about the game and that is the main difference.
“We always want to qualify for this big tournament, the boys should not be under pressure just because they lost to Kenya last time.”
Seventy-one-year-old Samule Songo said former warriors' skipper Knowledge Musona worked hard in trying to bring back the joy in fans though he did not surpass the good old days.
Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association secretary and Warriors' cheerleader Chris "Romario" Musekiwa was optimistic that the Warriors will sail through to the 2025 Afcon.
“We are rallying behind the Warriors squad in Uganda for the crunch 2025 Afcon qualifiers against Kenya this Friday and a home-away-from-home clash against Cameroon at Mandela Stadium next Tuesday,” Musekiwa said.
“The squad is very much balanced as it has a good blend of youth and experience.
“The major highlight is the return of Khama Billiat which has given the nation a new sense of belief and confidence.”
He added that the Warriors always play with a winning mindset, stating that fans are very confident of positive results in the coming games.
“We are calling upon Zimbabwean residents in Uganda, mostly students at various universities, to come in their big numbers and give the Warriors a motivational cheer,” Musekiwa added.
Despite disappointments, Warriors fans remain hopeful that the team will one day return to its former glory.
Fans who spoke to The Sports Hub called on the football authorities to take action to address the underlying issues and to invest in the future of Zimbabwean football.