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THE Warriors might have lost, in a penalty shoot-out, on their first international game on foreign soil at the weekend but there is a lot of optimism when it comes to our senior national football team.
After a lengthy sabbatical, which was a result of our lengthy suspension from international football, it feels good that we are now back in the FIFA family of nations.
And, on Saturday, our boys played their first game, on foreign soil, for the first time in 20 months, when they took on the Zebras of Botswana in a match which was part of that country’s Independence celebrations.
They eventually lost that match, on penalties, but it was not the result which really mattered here even though a victory would have been good.
What mattered the most was that new coach Baltemar Brito had the chance to see some of the players, whom he could draft for the serious business of next month’s World Cup qualifiers, in action.
Of course, the reality is that the majority of the players, who will make up the Warriors squad for those qualifiers, will be drawn from those playing in foreign leagues.
This is where our excitement comes from right now because we are happy with the performance of some of our key players in the top leagues of Europe.
At the weekend, we saw Marvelous Nakamba being named the outstanding player by his club, Luton Town, when the Hatters powered to their first win in the English Premiership.
Nakamba was the heartbeat of the Luton midfield in that stunning 2-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park.
He made 23 successful passes, won nine duels and produced six tackles to be named by his club as their best player on show.
It’s historic because this is a result that the Hatters will never forget since it will be filed in their history books as the moment they won their first match in the Premiership.
And, every time they recall that match, they will remember that their best player on the day was a Zimbabwean midfielder called Marvelous Nakamba.
The Warriors midfielder is now at a club where he is loved and he has the right atmosphere for him to express himself and he is doing just that.
Given all the challenges he faced at Aston Villa, it’s refreshing to see that the smile has returned on Nakamba’s face and his football is doing all the talking.
Another midfielder, Marshall Munetsi, is also enjoying a very good run in French Ligue 1 where he has consolidated his place as one of the best players at Stade Reims.
We believe that, right now, he is the best Zimbabwean footballer and on Sunday he scored the opening goal in a 2-0 win over struggling Olympique Lyon, who have Tino Kadewere on their payroll.
A combination of Nakamba and Munetsi should give us strength in midfield and a solid foundation for the Warriors to hunt down opponents in the World Cup qualifiers.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter