Stellenbosch FC goalkeeper coach Pernell McKop has explained his presence in the Zimbabwe squad at the COSAFA Cup.
Although he is still contracted to the DStv Premiership club, the former shot-stopper was part of the Warriors' competing in the COSAFA Cup tournament.
With Zimbabwe having been knocked out in the group stages, only four teams are now left, as Comoros and Mozambique prepare to do battle in the third/fourth place play-off and Angola to face Namibia in the final. Both matches take place on Sunday, 12:00 and 15:00 respectively.
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"It's a position that I once held when I was still at home in Zim," McKop tells KickOff.
"That was during the '90s when I worked with all the Zimbabwean junior national teams and senior national team goalkeepers under the tutelage of Roy Barreto and Reinhardt Fabisch, and again, just before COVID, when we had our World Cup game against Algeria, I was asked to come back home and be part of the national team.
"But because of the position we were in, the club was unable to release me to go and assist, and on Friday 21 June, I got a call from the technical director, asking me if it would be possible for me to come in again and assist.
"I told him I'm always available, we just need to get permission from Stellenbosch, which was granted. So, I'm just here to assist.
"So, yeah, I'm still with the Stellies, this was just for the COSAFA Cup, and they have their goalkeeper coach that I was working with during the tournament.
"Sunday Chidzambwa was also there, in the role of a mentor and part of the technical team.
"Most of the players in the Zim squad are still youngsters, and they are all under the age of 23, so it's exciting.
"This will help widen the selection when it comes to the full national team."