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ZIMBABWE’S Warriors remain the country’s flagship sporting team whose international assignments always capture the attention of football enthusiasts and that of the nation at large.
After weeks of uncertainty the senior men’s national soccer team, will converge in Johannesburg, South Africa tomorrow for the resumption of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Zimbabwe are in Group C along with Benin, Lesotho, Nigeria and South Africa.
Manica Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera will lead the Warriors in two crucial matches against Lesotho and South Africa on Friday and next week Tuesday respectively.
The campaign started under another interim coach, with former Highlanders mentor Baltemar Brito leading the Warriors to two draws against Rwanda and Nigeria.
Rwanda lead Group C with four points with South Africa on three while Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Nigeria are tied on two points while Benin have a single point making the pool an open affair.
Brito was then dropped once his interim term, which was tied to his deal with Highlanders, expired on December 31, while Norman Mapeza then took charge of a Four-Nations tournament in Malawi during the FIFA break in March.
As has seemingly become the norm at ZIFA under the Normalisation Committee, Mapeza like Brito and Sunday Chidzambwa before him, did not last beyond his brief interim mandate.
This led to the hiring of Tapera with the assistance of Takesure Chiragwi and Saul Chaminuka while Chidzambwa returns, albeit, as the technical advisor.
While we urge for Tapera to be given all the support and crucially a chance given that he will be the man in charge in the upcoming assignments, the lack of continuity has been problematic and might prove to be the biggest challenge to the Warriors instead of their actual opponents in the group, which appears ready for the taking as it open to all teams, including our own.
Chiragwi was included in the technical set-up for the matches against Lesotho and South Africa largely on the basis that he was part of the bench when Zimbabwe took part in the Four-Nations tournament in Malawi in March.
So, it is some form of continuity, but at an assistant coach level.
However, the new head coach does not seem to be building on that tournament as his plans include recalling players who quit international football in the last two years.
While the composition of the squad for the Malawi tournament seemed to suggest a shift towards the youth, especially those born and being developed in England, Tapera seems desperate to bring back yesteryear stars, Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona and Nyasha Mushekwi.
As we reported yesterday, Tapera said: “Besides calling former captain Knowledge Musona and Nyasha Mushekwi to avail themselves, I also contacted Khama Billiat. He still has that magical touch and we certainly need him. That’s why I decided to call him.
“Billiat is doing wonders at Yadah and that is very difficult to ignore. He still has what it takes to serve the national team. I am sure he will be able to join us in future assignments after the two World Cup qualifiers.
“You know, this is the national team and you want to have the best that the country has and I am ready to bring back all those players who have gone into international retirement, but still have what it takes to don the badge.”
This suggests that Tapera is looking way beyond the tenure officially announced by the Normalisation Committee as he would not have to worry about the players needed for matches outside of the Lesotho, South Africa and COSAFA Cup tournament later this month.
Whether Tapera continues beyond the South Africa trip remains to be seen but what is crucial for the Warriors is to exploit the advantages that are there this time around and position themselves well for a possible historic World Cup qualification.
Lesotho are ranked 149th on the FIFA rankings and have been in that zone for over a decade.
If the meetings between the two teams especially in the COSAFA competitions is anything to go by Lesotho should not be a problem for the Warriors in their quest for a first win in the qualifiers.
It is actually a must-win game for the Warriors if they are to have destiny in their own hands when the qualifiers come to an end.
Comparing the squads at hand, the Warriors are far superior and that superiority should be converted to maximum points on June 7 at the Orlando Stadium.
South Africa are a tougher opponent compared to Lesotho and they are currently ranked 59th on the FIFA rankings making them the 10th best team on the continent, while Nigeria are the top ranked team in the group as they are third on the continent and 30th globally.
Zimbabwe are 122nd in the world and 33rd in Africa.
However, the fact that the Warriors will be in South Africa from tomorrow until the match against Bafana Bafana on June 11 means they will be better prepared.
South Africa are travelling to Nigeria for a bruising encounter there before returning home for a date with the Warriors, who will have had more time to rest and also prepare.
That is an advantage that Tapera and his charges have to exploit to get what would be a crucial win against South Africa.
Online Reporter