Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo in FRANCISTOWN, Botswana
WARRIORS captain Marvelous Nakamba said he could have quit the national team after his calamitous mistake at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
But he decided to apologise to the nation by giving the country his best going forward.
And that looks to be the case after the Sheffield Wednesday man put together an outstanding show that reminded Zimbabwe of the times when he was at his peak.
Nakamba held the squad together tremendously, bossing the midfield with a perfect performance that inspired the Warriors to a 3-0 win against Botswana in the Four Nations tournament semi-final at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium on Saturday night.
He never put a foot wrong playing as a shield to coach Marian “Mario” Marinica’s three-man defence of Gerald Takwara, Teenage Hadebe and Munashe Garananga who was replaced by Isheanesu Mauchi in the first half after suffering a knock on his knee.
Nakamba’s chemistry with Germany-based Jonah Fabisch kept the team together, enabling Marinica’s philosophy which is anchored on swiftness, to blossom.
He was the Nakamba of old, the one who illuminated the scene during his days at English Premier League side Aston Villa.
He was the Nakamba who had fans mobbing around him to have selfies with at the sound of the final whistle.
Significantly, he was involved in every move that resulted in each of the goals that Zimbabwe fired past the hapless Zebras, who had their full squad on the pitch.
It was Nakamba who stopped Botswana’s raid and fashioned a pass to Godknows Murwira who then switched play down the right channel where Emmanuel Jalai and Bill Antonio combined well before the latter set up new boy Mongameli Tshuma for Zimbabwe’s opening goal.
He then played a one-two with Fabisch before the ball also found its way to the right flank and Zimbabwe earned a corner kick whose execution brought the second goal through a panicky Botswana defender.
The former Luton Town man was executing all those turns with comprehensive composure and fine conviction even at a time he stayed back at central defence after allowing the defenders to prod forward for set-pieces.
Then the finest moment of the night arrived with barely a minute to play in the opening half.
With two goals on the negative and widespread discontent cutting through the 26 000-seater facility, the Zebras launched an attack of their own.
They looked to have carved the Warriors open for what could have been the first time.
But Nakamba, deep in Zimbabwe’s defensive third, retrieved the ball with a “roll and turn” that won even critical acclaim but he wasn’t done.
He took two more touches while accelerating across the centre line before finding Macauley Bonne who hurdled past his marker and rolled it on for Antonio to put the icing on the cake.
And the performance; one for the archives, played a huge part in seeing the Warriors through the semis and setting a final showdown with Zambia tomorrow.
“Firstly, I am humbled by the amount of support that I continue to receive from Zimbabweans physically and online,” said Nakamba.
“I wanted to quit after that mistake in Morocco. I wanted to quit because I knew I had failed my country Zimbabwe that always comes first for me.
“I wanted to quit because I knew I had betrayed my people, the people that have a special place in my heart.
“These are the people who always supported me even after a dark day during my time at Aston Villa.
“And these are the people that crossed my mind and I said to myself no, I needed to continue serving and give huge performances for them.
“I am happy after leading my team to this 3-0 win. It’s for Zimbabwe, it’s for the fans.” Nakamba said the Warriors should keep their eyes on the ball ahead of the final against Zambia.
“I think we need to wrap this one up for the country,” he said.
“It was a good match against Botswana, and we shouldn’t let our guard down.
“Zambia has a group of impressive youngsters, and we know they will be eyeing to stop us in the final.
“Our country deserves to smile. And for now we should just pull this one off and get those smiles on their faces while we prepare for what’s coming like the AFCON qualifiers.” While he hasn’t really been playing at Sheffield Wednesday following his transfer from Luton Town, Nakamba has also drawn interest in Belgium and Turkey.
