Online Reporter
Lovemore Dube, Zimpapers Sports Hub
FORMER Zimbabwe midfield maestro Esrom Nyandoro believes the Warriors’ Africa Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco could hinge on one familiar figure, Kaitano Tembo.
A veteran of two successive Afcon finals, Nyandoro says Tembo’s experience and understanding of both Zimbabwean football and the South African Premiership give the Warriors an edge at a crucial moment.
“See Kaitano has played at that level, he has an appreciation of Zimbabwe football. That will help the new Zimbabwe coach as Kaitano even knows some of the players from the South African Premiership,” said Nyandoro.
Nyandoro said Tembo’s extensive travels with club and country had exposed him to the demands of top-level African football, an advantage he believes the technical team must fully use.
“Some of the players, for instance, the South African side, he watches them regularly in South Africa, that is a big plus for the team. The new coach (Marian Marinica) should tap on that from Kaitano,” said Nyandoro, an actor who dumped the stage and the screens and delivered at an international stage in football.
Zimbabwe have been drawn alongside Angola, South Africa and Egypt, a familiar but demanding group. Only the top two teams will advance to the knockout rounds.
The Warriors have never progressed beyond the group stage and have often found themselves in unforgiving draws. Their maiden Afcon appearance in Tunisia in 2002 placed them in a group with Cameroon, Egypt and Algeria.
Nyandoro knows that stage well. He scored what became the goal of the tournament in Zimbabwe’s 5-3 loss to Cameroon at Tunis 2004 and later served as a television caster for SuperSport at the last edition of the competition.
He speaks with authority about African football, shaped by years of travel even after retirement at Mamelodi Sundowns, who were perennial participants in continental competitions during his playing days.
Asked about Zimbabwe’s chances of progressing, Nyandoro said the door remains open, just as it is for many teams heading to Morocco.
He pointed to the Democratic Republic of Congo’s unlikely run at the last tournament, where they advanced from the group stage without a win or a goal before exiting in the next round.
“These tournaments are intriguing, they are hard to predict, you have to be resilient as a team, resolute in your desire to conquer and write history. So, my message to the boys is clear, they must go out and do well, the rest will take care of itself, if they win and draw they will be somewhere,” said Nyandoro.
He said history offers little protection or punishment at tournaments of this nature. For him, Morocco represents a clean slate and a chance for a new generation of Warriors to change the narrative.
“It’s their opportunity, they must grab it with both hands and be the team to take Zimbabwe to the next round. Yes, we have played Egypt, Angola and South Africa, a couple of times; let us not allow previous statistics fool us. We are going to a new tournament where we are expected to do better, and I believe the chance is there.
‘It may not be easy, everyone out there wants to win and proceed. It looks an open tournament in most groups and any result can be achieved. There could be shock exits from what I have observed in the past,” said Nyandoro.
The tournament kicks off next Sunday, with Zimbabwe set to take to the field a day later on Unity Day.
