Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, the interim management of the Zimbabwe Football Association has appointed a new manager for the Warriors
Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) announced on their X handle on Thursday.
Brito, 71, is still the head coach of Zimbabwe club side Highlanders FC, who are currently second in the 18-team league, just one point off leaders Ngezi Platinum.
Brazilian-born Baltemor Brito, a former assistant to Jose Mourinho at Porto and Chelsea, will be saddled with the responsibility of tinkering with the team for the qualifier.
It would be recalled that Football in Zimbabwe has been under suspension for the last 18 months due to government interference.
Their suspension was lifted in July after its March 2022 expulsion, and the soccer federation has been under the governance of a temporary committee.
“Brito and his assistants’ first assignment will be the invitational match to celebrate Botswana’s Independence Day on 30 September. Thereafter, they will have to begin working on creating a team to compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in November.
Brito was part of a quartet that also included fitness coach Rui Faria, goalkeeping coach Silvino Louro, and chief scout André Villas-Boas that followed Mourinho from Porto to Chelsea in 2004.
He also specialized in audio-visual work to prepare the team for matches. As the special one left Chelsea early into 2007–08, so did Brito and other assistants.
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