adminESTEEMED followers of the game of football, welcome to this new column in your favourite and preferred weekly family newspaper, The Manica Post. This column, it is sincerely hoped, will make your Friday reading more enjoyable.
But first and foremost, the column would like to doff its hat to The Manica Post Editor, Hatred Zenenga and his second-in-command, Cletus Mushanawani for their generous gesture to allow Friday Football Echoes space to run on the Sports pages of this newspaper. Gamechanger is deeply grateful to have been allowed the opportunity for a platform that interacts with friends of the game and get to share experiences and exchange ideas. Again, thank you, Zenenga and Mushanawani!
The column is simply taking the baton relayed to Gamechanger by a brother in arms, Ray Bande, whose incisive “Views From The Commentary Box” used to illuminate the sports pages of this publication.
So, Zimbabwe’s representatives in the Confederation of African Football assignments Chicken Inn and Harare City got off to promising starts in their respective games by picking up important home wins. Chicken Inn upset highly-fancied South African side Mamelodi Sundowns 1-0 in Bulawayo last Saturday in the preliminary round first leg tie, as Harare City were beating AS Adema of Madagscar 3-2 in Harare on the same afternoon.
The Gamecocks are taking part in the Caf Champions League after winning the league title, while the Sunshine Boys are competing in the Confederations Cup following their triumph in the Chibuku Trophy, the country’s richest knockout tournament.
Now, the two teams’ victories had a two-pronged importance to their campaigns.
First, they secured results to keep them alive and still very much in the tie and will have everything to play for in the second legs set for Pretoria and Antananarivo in a fortnight. Yes, both teams carry only a scant 1-goal lead, but if they can maintain or protect that advantage in those away games by grinding out any favourable result, that will see them pull through to the next round.
Second, the victories certainly gathered some momentum for our home boys as they prepare for the return matches. It will also give them confidence and boost their morale that the job has been half done and can be completed. Being double-legged ties, played over two legs, it helps a lot to score a win in the home tie.
Standing on the footing of these first leg victories, Chicken Inn and Harare City can now build their foundation for a successful challenge on that.
In other words, it is always important to make the right step when taking off on an important journey.
The two teams’ wins were, however, made all the sweeter by the fact that this is only both sides’ debut forays into the African safari and they have taken a bow in style; a respectable feat by any measure.
If the Gamecocks and the Sunshine Boys believe it, then they have to fight for it and achieve progress into the next round.
Good going, Chicken Inn and Harare City, and all the best in the return matches; the game is only on and you can still play on.
Thank you and goodbye, Eric Rosen
Gamechanger salutes the late Motor Action director for the immense role he played in adding value to and improving our game. Rosen will be most remember here for bringing his Mighty Bulls project to these parts of the land when Mutare had no resident team of its own competing in the Premiership. Motor Action also provided a football home to Chipinge-born defender Lovemore “Thula” Maphuya. Thank you for everything, Eric, and may your dear soul rest in eternal peace.
Phew, what an EPL weekend!
As the English Premier League meanders towards the business end, it continues to take a few more twists and turns.
Manchester United faltered against Sunderland and succumbed to their first ever defeat at the Stadium of Light in the history of the Premiership.
Arsenal revived their push for a title in 12 years by edging table-topping Leicester City in dramatic fashion as substitute Danny Welbeck – out of action for 10 months, with only seven minutes back on the pitch and three touches – buried a late, late winner. Well, Welbeck is back, a Gunners faithful are saying.
Manchester City appear to be running out of steam after losing to a second title rival for a second time in two weeks at the Etihad as Tottenham Hotspurs powered to victory.
Defending champions Chelsea romped to their biggest win of the campaign so far, thrashing a hapless Newcastle United to remain unbeaten in 10 games and since Guus Hiddink took over.
Liverpool finally showed how well they can play by picking up only their second win in the last seven games and keeping a clean sheet for the first time in that period by condemning Aston Villa to deeper relegation trouble with a 6-0 drubbing.
It’s Game On, Play On!
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