Warriors Coach Pagels Blames Ref for COSAFA Loss
Pagels said his team played magnificent football and were much the better but the match officials deprived them of the victory.
HARARE — Zimbabwe Warriors coach Klaus Dieter Pagels has blamed bad refereeing for his team’s defeat in the just ended COSAFA Cup final. The warriors lost 2-0 to Zambia’s Chipolopolo, surrendering the cup title they won at the expense of the same opponents in 2009. But Warriors coach Pagels is blaming the referee, Benard Camille, for his team’s defeat claiming the Seychelles official was biased towards the hosts. Pagels said his team played magnificent football and was far much the better side but the match officials deprived them of victory and a fifth COSAFA cup title. Even Zambian coach Herve Renard agreed that Zimbabwe was far much the better side but said in football what counts are goals and Zambia did just that. Zambia has now won the COSAFA cup four times having also won the tournament in 1997, 1998, and 2006. Zimbabwe also has four titles while South Africa and Angola have won the competition three times each. The Warriors now shift their attention to the African Nations championships in which they play Mauritius in the first round of qualifiers this weekend. The finals of the tournament, which is reserved for players who ply their trade in their own countries, will be held in South Africa between January and February next year.