HARARE - Zifa technical adviser Klaus Dieter Pagels has attacked the way Zimbabwean Castle Premiership teams warm up before matches.

The German coach made the remarks yesterday during a one-day stretching and fitness training for Zimbabwean women football coaches facilitated by German fitness trainer Laura Daras.

“I am really disappointed about the manner in which Zimbabwean teams warm up before games,” said Pagels.

“It seems like the warming up is like training sessions; the intensity is too high. Each time I go to Rufaro Stadium I see teams warming up without the ball which is very old-fashioned. Football changes every day so coaches have to adapt.

“Players have to warm up with the ball; that is the modern way.”

Pagels has been frustrated because top-tier league coaches are not utilising what they learnt from top German coach Erich Rutemoller early this year in a workshop bankrolled by Nyaradzo Funeral Assurance Company.

“I have attended a number of Premier League training sessions and I am disappointed the coaches are not using knowledge they got from Rutemoller. It was very expensive to bring Rutemoller here yet the teams are not taking advantage of what they learnt from him.”

Rutemoller, who has coached top German sides Hansa Rostock and Bonner SC and was assistant coach for the German national team for 10 years from 1994, was assisted by Zifa technical director Nelson Matongorere when he came to Zimbabwe for the Premiership coaches’ workshop.