Harare, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe head coach Michael Nees has injected a fresh dose of controversy into the build-up to the World Cup qualifier versus South Africa, making light of Bafana Bafana’s own disciplinary worries and underlining that his side will be going for victory — partly to boost their ranking and partly to spark joy back home.
At a recent press briefing, Nees playfully rifled through his squad list and declared: “Okay, now let me look if there is no yellow card… let me check again… yellow cards are okay. You never know. Two, three times, double check; it looks good. If I am not mistaken, we have no yellow card players.”
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While delivered with a smile, the remarks are clearly meant to sting — especially in light of South Africa’s recent scandal.
Earlier in the qualifying campaign, Bafana Bafana were docked three points by FIFA for fielding the suspended Teboho Mokoena in a match against Lesotho, a ruling that sent shockwaves through Group C.
Though Zimbabwe’s own qualification hopes may be slim, Nees insists that his team will not simply go through the motions.
He said the Warriors will fight for victory to improve their FIFA ranking, restore national pride, and bring joy to their fans across the country. “It’s not just about the points,” he said, “it’s about showing that Zimbabwe can compete, no matter who we play.”
A win over South Africa would also have symbolic weight — not only to frustrate their southern rivals but to demonstrate the Warriors’ resilience and ambition under Nees. By openly mocking South Africa’s disciplinary slip, the Zimbabwe coach seems intent on sowing doubt while assuring his own players that there are no excuses on his bench.
The two teams will face each other on October 10 at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban before South Africa take on Rwanda in their final group match. For South Africa, wins in both games are essential if they still hope to reach the World Cup directly. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe see this as a chance to spoil a rival’s ambitions while regaining pride and momentum.
Nees’ cheeky “yellow card audit” might look like light-hearted banter — but behind the humour, there is steel. Zimbabwe are saying loud and clear: they are coming to win — not just for points, but to send a message.
