HomeOld_PostsWarriors’ same old story...time to change the script

Warriors’ same old story…time to change the script

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By Sheldon Hakata

NORMAN MAPEZA once steered ship for the Zimbabwe senior men’s national soccer team, the Warriors.
I remember one particular game at the National Sports Stadium.
George Chigova, Eric Chipeta, Onisimor Bhasera, Teenage Hadebe, Partson Jaure, Thabani Kamusoko, Danny Phiri, Kuda Mahachi, Marvelous Nakamba, Knowledge Musona and Tendai Ndoro started for the Warriors in that 3-0 opening win against Liberia on June 11 2017.
Mapeza had built a ‘mean machine’, laying foundation for the Warriors’ quest to qualify for the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Cameroon.
The current warriors gaffer, Sunday ‘Mhofu’ Chidzambwa’s last local premiership attachment was with ZPC Kariba. He tendered his resignation barely three years after serving as coach at the Kariba-based outfit.
His assistants, Rahman Gumbo and Lloyd Mutasa were also casualties of local premiership outfits, Chicken Inn and Dynamos respectively, after questionable performances.
On Sunday, in Monrovia, Liberia, France-based forward Tinotenda Kadewere, coming from a long injury lay-off, was thrown in the Warriors’ starting line-up by this technical crew.
That was a huge blunder by the technical team.
No doubt he was not fit to play.
Kadewere was very ‘rusty’.
Surprisingly, he lasted 81 minutes before he was substituted by Talent Chawapiwa.
Zimbabwe should have won comfortably had strikers, in particular, been precise in front of goal.
This is the first time Zimbabwe has failed to score in the AFCON qualifiers.
No doubt Zimbabwe’s forwards had a bad day on the pitch.
They missed glorious chances.
That was costly, as Liberian captain William Jebor went on to punish the Warriors at the other end.
Zimbabwe were in control until Jebor capitalised on poor marking by the Warriors, scoring the only goal.
In their last encounter last month, the Warriors stunned soccer fans after they defeated the much fancied DRC in their own backyard 2-1.
However, on Sunday in Liberia, the same Warriors failed to impress.
The last time Zimbabwe played Liberia in Monrovia was on September 5 2010 and the match ended one-all.
It’s, however, disappointing that their recent match against the Lone Stars, as Liberia are affectionately known, could have decided Zimbabwe’s future as far as qualification for the AFCON finals is concerned.
With Liberia anchoring the group at four points, Zimbabwe only needed to avoid defeat at the Samuel Kenyon Doe Sports Complex.
The venue was named after late Liberian president Samuel Kanyon Doe, the West African county’s first indigenous Head of State who ruled the nation between 1980 and 1990 before his violent televised death.
Current President George Weah – the only African to ever win the World Footballer-of-the-Year award was among the cheering home side supporters.
The Thomas Kojo-coached Lone Stars had a second consecutive home victory after defeating the Congo last month.
They needed an outright victory against the Warriors to stay in contention.
The Warriors might have lost the battle in Monrovia, but they haven’t lost the war as yet.
Zimbabwe can still qualify, even if they lose their last game at home against Congo Brazzaville, provided Liberia and DRC play to a draw in Kinshasa, the DRC.
There is, however, something disturbing about our beloved Warriors.
They always let their fans down at the most crucial stage.
Remember the era of the Dream Team under German coach Reinhard Fabisch?
The nation is still nursing sad memories of 1981 when former Zimbabwe Saints and national team goalkeeper John Sibanda gifted Congo that precious ticket to the AFCON finals.
Sibanda had a howler.
Two years later, the Warriors allowed the then Zambian great and captain, Kalusha Bwalya, a free header to level scores when we needed a win at the National Sports Stadium.
The Warriors had raced into the lead through Henry McKop, but the dream turned into a nightmare.
However, these previous experiences against the Congo, Angola and Zambia, where our beloved Warriors fell short at the last hurdle, must not deter the current national team’s focus.
Zimbabwe top Group G with eight points from five matches.
The Warriors have won two, drew two and lost one match in their continental campaign.
Liberia have seven points and are second on the log standings. The Lone Stars now fancy their chance of making it to Cameroon 2019.
The DRC are third with six points, while Congo Brazzaville anchor the group with five.
The Warriors’ defeat left Group G wide open ahead of the last round of the qualifiers early next year.
All four teams will go into the final round of matches with a chance of qualifying for AFCON 2019.
Zimbabwe is now expected to wrap their campaign at home against Congo-Brazzaville in March next year, hence the Warriors have ample time to prepare.
They must discard that tag of being authors of their own downfall.
The ball is in your court Mhofu.

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