Chronicle Editor
Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
IT was termed the easiest draw for Zimbabwe at the Afcon finals in the five times their name has gone into the hat, but the general feeling among fans is that only adequate preparations will guarantee success for the Warriors.
Zimbabwe were drawn in the same group with Malawi, Guinea and Senegal at the draw conducted on Tuesday night in cameroon.
Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association (ZNSSA)’s Carl Marx Nkomo said it was a fair draw.
“I’m happy this time we don’t get to meet Algeria the defending champions. My worry is Senegal, but if we can get enough preparation, including early camping, we can go beyond the group stages. It’s about time we go a step further because we have a few players playing in top leagues in the world. I don’t see us not progressing beyond the group stages,” said Nkomo.
ZNSSA Southern Region secretary Trust Jim said: “The draw was fair, but we need good preparations in time.
However, I am not convinced we have the right man for the job. I believe what we need are more high-profile friendly matches so that we test ourselves against the best.”
Allen Ndlovu said the Warriors could not have prayed to be drawn into a better group.
“Frankly speaking we have a decimal chance of progressing if we do not look at ourselves as underdogs. There is no better group. All we have to do is to play good football regardless of whichever opponent. Gone are the days of super teams,” said Ndlovu.
Velani Ncube said the Warriors don’t stand a chance of qualifying for the knockout stage because there’s no football action taking place as is happening in other countries.
“This will make the selection of players difficult for the head coach. Of course, you talk of foreign players, but some of them are not regular players at their clubs. Even if they are playing, I do not see Zifa getting friendlies so that the players can jell. These guys need time to train together as a team and only friendlies can help in that regard,” Ncube said.
Eddigton Mponda said with good preparations, the team will do well.
“We drew against African champions Algeria, what can stop us from getting a positive result against Senegal,” Mponda quipped.
Even South African legend Lucas Radebe, one of the greats of the African game, who was invited to the draw, backed the Warriors to do well.
“There are no smaller teams anymore, football is growing, there are some young and up-and-coming legends,” he told guests at the draw.
“I will go for Zimbabwe, I think they have played well, they have got into this stage, not by any fluke, they are one of the most promising teams on the continent,” Radebe said. — @innoceentskizoe
Online Reporter