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THE Warriors’ magnificent showing against Mali could herald a new era for Zimbabwean football. In what was probably their best showing so far in Cape Town, Bulawayo boys Simba Sithole of How Mine and Kudakwashe Mahachi of Chicken Inn, turned on the power and scored two brilliant goals to hand the country a 2-1 win.
It was a hard fought result as the boys worked themselves to a standstill in defence of their country’s flag and pride. Zimbabwe had never proceeded beyond the preliminary rounds of any continental tournament.
A gallant performance by Ian Gorowa’s men on Saturday saw the team reach the Chan tournament semi-finals. This reaching of new water levels was welcomed by an expectant nation that sprang to hooray when the final whistle was blown on a hot and humid evening.
Prior to Saturday, the Warriors had been to two Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and Tunisia losing in the group stages. Not much was expected from the boys going into the match against a team that had beaten Nigeria in the qualifying rounds.
But a workmanlike approach to the game, where the boys defended as a team and attacked as a group with no real standout player, was just enough for the team to proceed to the semi-finals where they could clash with either Gabon or Libya.
Gorowa and his assistants, Callisto Pasuwa and Mkhuphali Masuku as well as goalkeepers’ coaches Richard Tswatswa and Gift Muzadzi deserve praise for their ingenuity. Sensing that goals were not coming, they changed strategy and brought in players like Simba Sithole of How Mine, Masimba Mambare and Peter “Rio” Moyo.
The move has brought a sense of urgency and better creativity which has made the team’s matches a must-watch for soccer fans.
It is the unity on the pitch and that on the terraces too that deserves special mention. It shows the power of sport to bring people together as on the terraces fans from other races that we rarely find to our stadia, have come in big numbers and been seen proudly hoisting our beautiful multi-coloured flag.
The Warriors need this support and that of the corporate sector all the way to the final.
We hope the boys know that soccer is the most loved sport in the country and the impact it has to the masses when results are coming.
Zifa deserve praise for the good work so far. They have done the nation proud and we hope they will leave no stone unturned in harnessing bonuses for the gallant Warriors.
Reaching the semi-finals of a tournament of this magnitude is a big achievement, a moment to be treasured for a long time.
We hope the spirit existing in camp could spur on the guys to the final and make Zimbabweans a proud lot.
Online Reporter