Steve Vickers BBC Sport, Harare

Mhlauri says qualifying for the Nations Cup is not enough

After being exposed technically at the 2004 Nations Cup, Zimbabwe have come up with a coaching compromise aimed at moving the country's football forward.

Sunday Marimo led the Warriors in Tunisia, and another local coach, Charles Mhlauri, will take the team to the 2006 finals in Egypt.

But the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) and Mhlauri himself believe that European expertise is essential for Zimbabwe to be more than also-rans at the tournament.

A unique set-up will see Mhlauri assisted by Dutchman Dick de Boer, the first time that an African coach has had a European deputy.

We need to close the gap between us and the top nations, just qualifying for the Nations Cup is not enough Charles Mhlauri Zimbabwe coach

The highly-qualified but low-profile De Boer will work with Zimbabwe on an ad-hoc basis beyond Egypt, joining the team each time there is a training camp.

"We have to do something, and this way it won't cost us an arm and a leg," Zifa chairman Rafik Khan told BBC Sport on Friday.

"De Boer has a good CV, and it will be good for Mhlauri to gain experience from him - we need that exposure and help.

"Mhlauri will be in charge, but when you work as a team it doesn't matter who's boss - look at how Alex Ferguson and Carlos Querioz work together at Manchester United."

De Boer, now in his early 50s played for Dutch club Volendam in the 1970s and then coached Almac, Volendam and Ultrech.

Mhlauri has been searching for a European to join his technical team, and De Boer was recommended to him while on a coaching course in Germany.

"He's highly qualified as a coach and experienced as a player, and we need the skills from Europe," said Mhlauri.

"Holland has one of the top leagues in the world, and they have gone as far as the final of the World Cup.

"We need to close the gap between us and the top nations, just qualifying for the Nations Cup is not enough."

Zifa's plan is for Mhlauri and De Boer to work together up to the 2010 World Cup.

The association's finances do not allow the appointment of a top foreign coach, while there is also a great deal of respect for local coaches among supporters.

Fans have generally welcomed De Boer's appointment, particularly as Zimbabwe's Nations Cup preparations have been slow thus far.

The 'odd couple' might be a convenient arrangement, but Mhlauri and De Boer will have to work miracles in Egypt.