Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza-Zimpapers Sports Hub
FOR striker Tawanda Chirewa, pulling on the Warriors jersey has already brought special moments, but there is one experience that has remained missing — playing for Zimbabwe at home.
That wait should finally end tomorrow night when the Warriors host the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the National Sports Stadium.
Kick-off is scheduled for 6pm and marks the senior national team’s long-awaited competitive return to their traditional home.
For Chirewa and several members of this emerging Warriors generation, it promises to be more than just another international assignment.
Since breaking into the national team, the Wolves man has known the Warriors largely as a travelling side, representing Zimbabwe in foreign lands both for home and away games.
Chirewa, Tawanda Maswanhise, Shane Maroodza and Sean Fusire are among the Warriors who could get their first taste of playing a senior international at the giant stadium, backed by thousands of fans.
“This is something I have been looking forward to for a long time,” said Chirewa.
“Every time you are called up, you are proud because you are representing Zimbabwe, but obviously there has always been that feeling that one day you want to play in Zimbabwe, in front of your own people.”
Chirewa said he heard a lot about the National Sports Stadium, “the atmosphere and what it means when full”.
“To finally have that opportunity is special for me,” he said.
“Zimbabweans have supported us from a distance for a long time. Now, we have an opportunity to play in front of them and hopefully give them something to enjoy.”
Chirewa comes with his confidence soaring after playing a starring role in the Warriors’ dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Sierra Leone in their opening Group E qualifier on Thursday.
Zimbabwe appeared to be heading for defeat after trailing 2-0, but Chirewa helped inspire a remarkable fightback.
He set up Wolverhampton Wanderers team-mate Marshall Munetsi for Zimbabwe’s first goal before getting on the scoresheet himself to restore parity. Munetsi then completed the turnaround with his second goal late in the contest. It was the perfect appetiser for Chirewa before finally coming home.
“To score and get an assist for my country is obviously a great feeling, but the most important thing was the result,” he said.
“At 2-0 down, we could easily have dropped our heads, but everybody kept believing. We showed character and togetherness to come back.
“Marshall took his goals really well and as a team we kept pushing until the end. That is the mentality we want to carry into the next game.”
The excitement is shared by Maswanhise, who has established himself as one of the exciting faces of the Warriors’ new generation.
Despite a slow start in the first half, he assisted Munetsi’s second goal against Sierra Leone.
For him, the opportunity to finally experience a Warriors home match on Zimbabwean soil is something he has been waiting for.
“It is really exciting because this is something we have spoken about as players,” said Maswanhise.
“We have played for Zimbabwe before, but playing in front of our own supporters is going to be completely different.”
Maswanhise said the support they got playing on foreign land means home could be amazing.
“To now have them inside the stadium with us is something special,” he said.
“For some of us, it will be the first time experiencing that atmosphere with the senior national team and we are all looking forward to it.
“Hopefully we can give the supporters a performance and a result they can be proud of.”
Thando Ngwenya’s story is slightly different.
Unlike some of his team-mates, the AmaZulu forward has already experienced playing at the National Sports Stadium, but never as a senior Zimbabwe international.
“When you are representing Zimbabwe, there is a different responsibility and a different feeling,” he said.
“You know you are not just representing yourself or your club; you are representing millions of people. We want the supporters to come in their numbers because they can make a big difference for us.”
