adminMakomborero Mutimukulu in BLANTYRE, Malawi
WARRIORS’ skipper Willard Katsande reckons this is possibly his last chance of a dance at the Nations Cup finals. At 29, the Kaizer Chiefs star intends to ensure that the journey to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, which began with an impressive 2-1 victory over Malawi on Saturday, is successfully completed.
Goals from Cuthbert Malajila and Khama Billiat sandwiched John Banda’s 23 minute effort at Kamuzu Stadium.
“Look I have to be realistic, I am 29 and by the time the next AFCON comes I will be 33 and chances are that I will not be an automatic choice when it comes to the national team so this is my chance to realise a long cherished dream of playing at AFCON,” said Katsande.
“The victory over Malawi under such trying circumstances shows that this team has the capacity to go all the way.
“If we can pull off such a result when we only trained together for two days before spending 12 hours on the road and arriving just over 14 hours before the game what can we achieve if we do everything according to the book?
“As players we love our country and the fact that we made the trip to Malawi by road and did the business is ample evidence of that patriotism.
“What we need now is to get everyone behind us as well as an improved relationship between us the players and ZIFA. We have to sit down and close ranks before the next qualifier because a house dividend will fall.”
Katsande was solid as Zimbabwe upstaged Malawi with his partnership with Danny Phiri depriving the Malawian central midfield pairing of skipper Joseph Kamwendo and Micium Mhone the room to play. Coach Callisto Pasuwa tasked Katsande with acting as an immovable barrier just ahead of the central defensive pairing of Patson Jaure and national team debutant Justin Jangano.
Phiri got the permit to venture upfront.
With his central midfield a defensive wall Pasuwa asked his charges to sit back and try catching the Flames on the counter with the pace of Kuda Mahachi and Billiat key to the game plan.
“Our match fitness levels were not at the expected levels so we had to be smart against a team that had been in camp for the past two months,” said the Warriors coach.
“There was no way we could go blow for blow with Malawi so we sat back and caught them on the counter . . . Malajila’s goal was a result of that approach.
“During the first half Kuda and Khama were not tracking back and that over loaded Blessing Moyo and Ronald Pfumbidzayi our wing backs.
“It improved in the second half and Bisto (Moyo) and Ronnie got the room to overlap and bring in some crosses.”
Worryingly the Warriors conceded barely a minute after Malajila had thrust them into the lead.
It’s a trend that is beginning to worry Pasuwa.
“That goal was a result of over celebrating. We celebrate a goal for too long and we are caught napping the very next moment.
“I saw it happening with the Young Warriors in Swaziland a couple of weeks ago and it happened again at Kamuzu Stadium.
“That is one area we have to work hard on because if this deficiency is not addressed we will find ourselves in a fix one day.
“Such grey areas explain why as coaches we are always crying about having the boys in camp for a longer period, there are no short cuts about it we need to have time with the boys so that we iron out such grey areas.”
While each of the 13 Zimbabweans that doused the Flames grafted for the motherland one man or boy, because he is still one, stood taller and prouder.
Goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva was enormous between the posts and was unanimously voted man-of-the-match by his teammates.
Billiat reckons Mukuruva is headed for the top table.
“That young boy, I have no words to describe his performance,” he said.
“He kept us in the game and one save in particular shocked me . . . it was in the second half and he seemed to be slipping but he dived low to his right and push the ball away for a corner.
“After the game he came to me and said ‘thanks Khama you won us the game’ but I was quick to remind him that he was the real hero of this game.”
For Katsande the Dynamos gloveman is heaven sent.
“He is a blessing. Very young, always ready to listen. I just pray that he continues to work hard and stays humble,” said the skipper. The Warriors are scheduled to return home this morning, arriving at Harare International Airport at 10am.
Online Reporter