Do or die for Warriors
SIMBA RUSHWAYA
Just as Julius Caeser led his army in crossing Rubicon River in 49 B.C, Sunday Chidzambga is expected to carry out an almost similar task when he leads the men’s senior national soccer team in the conclusive 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo Brazzaville at the National Sports Stadium on Sunday. It’s a point of no return as Chidzambga carries the hopes of nation that hardly tastes victory in main sporting disciplines.
It is a match that already has been punctuated by melodrama and sub plots.
It is basically a play featuring different players, but same nations. What makes the game interesting is that the two teams have a score to settle against each other. While the Red Devils of Congo are eager to perpetuate misery on their hosts, Zimbabwe’s main agenda is – revenge.
The grudge dates back from 1991.
In a similar clash at the same venue, the Warriors were dumped out of the same competition when the late goalkeeper John Sibanda conceded a late goal which doomed what would have been the Warriors’ maiden appearance at the African Cup of Nations finals which were hosted by Senegal.
Zimbabwe go into this match with a determination to erase the bad memories and former Young Warriors player David Sengu believes the events of 1991 should not be the benchmark of this crucial match.
“So many things have happened and changed along the way. We have since qualified for the finals three times, at some stage twice in a row. We are no longer the cursed team that people used to tag us as,” said Sengu.
“More importantly, we now have talented players who are playing in big leagues in Europe and can compete against the so called big guns. We have Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona whose experience is very critical for this game. Above all we are playing at home which is a huge advantage for us.”
Indeed Chidzambga’s charges have relative advantage against their opponents whom they held 1-1 in Brazzaville in September last year making the Warriors favourites to come out with a positive result as all they need is just to avoid a defeat and march into Egypt.
Zimbabwe top Group G which also include the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia, with all the teams still in with a chance to qualify depending on the outcomes on Sunday. Liberia and DRC meet in another encounter in Kinshasa.
The Warriors have eight points from their previous outings, one ahead of second placed Liberia, who have a minus three goal difference while Zimbabwe are in the positive with the same goals. Liberia will have to beat DRC by a huge margin to outdo Zimbabwe.
Team manager Wellington Mpandare was upbeat.
“Our aim is to win and qualify without taking calculators. I’m happy that most of the players have reported for camp and that is a motivation. This is a very crucial match for us as a nation. Players want to win it for the victims of Cyclone Idai. They deserve a smile,” said Mpandare.
Apart from Billiat and Musona, the home team will be banking on the experience of England based Tendayi Darikwa, Tino Kadewere who earns his living at Le Havre of France and shot-stopper George Chigova, who will be competing for the same jersey against emotional Edmore “ZiKeeper” Sibanda.
Sibanda lost his son to Cedric to an asthmatic attack recently and wants to feature in the match in honour of his late son.
It will certainly be an emotional affair.
Two players; Kelvin Lunga of SC Rodinghausen and Leicester City’s Admiral Muskwe will be vying for their first caps in the crucial tie. Lunga and Muskwe were born in Germany and United Kingdom respectively, but to Zimbabwean parents. Lunga is son to former Dynamos and Zimbabwe striker Max Makanza, who is now based in Germany.
Chidzambga became the first coach to take Zimbabwe to their first ever finals in 2004 when the Warriors gate-crashed the big boys’ party in Tunisia. Since then, Zimbabwe has qualified for Egypt (2006) and Gabon (2017).
Charles Mhlauri took the Warriors to Egypt, while Kallisto Pasuwa became the third coach to guide the local outfit to the prestigious tournament.
