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Ishemunyoro Chingwere in Curepipe, Mauritius
Mauritius……………….0
Zimbabwe……..(1) 3IAN “Dibango” Gorowa’s tenure as Warriors coach got off to a promising start with a largely expected victory over their lowly regarded hosts in an African Nations Championships first round, first leg qualifier at New George V stadium yesterday afternoon.
A brace from 2012 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League Golden Boot winner Nelson Maziwisa sandwiched substitute Simba Sithole’s second half strike for the Warriors to give them a healthy lead into the return leg on Sunday.
A waterlogged pitch which fell victim of light showers had threatened to spoil the day for the Warriors who had become accustomed to a silk passing game under departed German coach Klaus Dieter-Pagels.
But to their credit, they overcame the natural hurdle to welcome their new boss with a convincing win.
A naturally happy Gorowa was also satisfied with the first day in office.
“I was mainly worried by the pitch than anything else when we came in, but I am happy we managed to get the three goals under those (water logged) conditions.
“I think we could have scored more (had it not been for the waterlogged pitch) but if you look at it, they also played well especially at the beginning of the second half and could have leaked one goal but we kept our shape and denied them,” said Gorowa.
There was no doubt from the onset that Club M, as the Mauritians love to call themselves, are still minnows at this level of the international game as the Warriors, buoyed by the impressive CAPS United defenderHardlife Zvirekwi — operating from deep on the right, made numerous forays into the opposition’s defence lines.
The Warriors could have been a goal up with just five minutes on the clock but front runner Maziwisa fell victim of the slippery ground while anticipating a pass from his FC Platinum teammate Charles Sibanda resulting in the later going solo only for his attempt at goal to be saved by Augustine Aboo.
A rare sight of good exchanges from the hosts ended with their best player on view Fabrice Pithia shooting over from inside the box under stern challenge from the uncompromising Partson Jaure in the 12th minute.
Three minutes later debutant Milton Ncube did well to ride a tackle before pushing it to Sibanda who responded with a delightful cross from the left for the excellently positioned Maziwisa to head home.
The Warriors continued bullying Club M, but to their credit, the hosts also had their moments with Pithia involved in all their forays which however could not get the better of Jaure and Eric Chipeta’s central defence pairing.
Silas Songani who had a decent game, before making way for Sithole at the breather, had a chance to double the lead in the 37th minute, curling in a brilliant effort after a short corner but Augustine was on guard to push it back into play.
The Islanders came back from the breather a rejuvenated lot and the Warriors were relieved to see Coco Menzy’s ferocious shot deflected inches wide of Tafadzwa Dube’s goal by Calembe John six minutes after the resumption.
Gorowa’s charges, to their credit, weathered the brief Mauritian storm with Sithole slotting into the empty net in the 59th minute after Ncube had danced past Veeranah Chandra and Buckland Jimmy on the left wing and avoiding an outdrawn Augustine with a cross to the goal poacher.
Six minutes later Pithia was back to haunt the Warriors with a powerful shot only to find Dube at his usual best, diving to his left to expertly push it out for a corner.
With less than six minutes on the clock, Dibango then introduced Felix Chindungwe for skipper Masimba Mambare as he looked to close shop. The Warriors were however not done as yet with Maziwisa heading in second half substitute Tawanda Muparati’s corner to kill off the match as a contest.
After the match Mauritius coach Akbar Patel conceded that he had lost to a better side but was quick to note that with a bit of luck, they could have gotten away with at list a respectable result.
“We did our best but our chances of pulling a result were always weak because Zimbabwe were just too big a challenge for us.
“Their goalkeeper also made it very difficult for us blocking two or three efforts which I think should have gone in,” said Patel.
The Warriors who have been to the last two editions of the CHAN tournament in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009 and Sudan 2011 will now be hoping to see off the Indian Ocean islanders and set up a second round date with the winner of the tie between Zambia and Botswana.
That encounter is still balanced afterthe two sides drew 1-1 inBotswana yesterday.
Team:
Mauritius: B Augustibe , H Buckland, Veeranah C, Pithia L D (A Patate 80th min), Pithia L L, Calambe J, Estazie J, Permal J, Pierre J, Bazerole J, Coco M
Zimbabwe: T Dube, P Jaure, E Chipeta, H Zvirekwi, A Mbara, D Chafa, M Mambare (F Chindungwe 84th min), S Songani (S Sithole 46th min), M Ncube, C Sibanda (T Muparati 74th min ), N Maziwisa
Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa