Keeper Dube prays for goals

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS’ goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube has challenged his teammates to find their scoring touch and says that all his team need to secure the result they need in Ndola and qualify for the CHAN finals in South Africa in January next year. The home-based Warriors were held to a goalless draw by Zambia at Rufaro at the weekend, a result that titled this contest in favour of Chipolopolo, who should be the favourites now, but the door is still open for the Zimbabweans.

Given that they managed to stop their opponents from getting a crucial away goal, the Warriors know that every goal they score at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium will be golden, with Zambia expected to score twice on each occasion to beat them.

Dube, who has reinvented himself at CAPS United after being off-loaded by FC Platinum, has been coach Ian Gorowa’s first choice ‘keeper since the former Dynamos and Black Rhinos forward took charge of the team in the game against Mauritius.

He kept a clean sheet on a slippery surface in Mauritius and then conceded a poor goal in the home tie against the Indian Ocean islanders at Rufaro in a 1-1 draw.
Dube didn’t concede a goal in the goalless draw against Zambia and his record, so far, of just one goal conceded in three games is impressive for one coming back into the national team fold.

The defensive strength of the team appears to suggest that Gorowa and his assistant, Callisto Pasuwa, are all firm believers in the Sunday Chidzambwa coaching manual where everything has to start with a punishing rearguard.

If the Warriors can stop the Zambians from scoring in Ndola, then they would have brightened their chances of going through to the finals in South Africa but even if they concede, it won’t be the end of the world, because any goal they score will be golden.

Dube believes they have a good chance, if they can get their scoring touch back, and has challenged his forwardline to stand up and be counted after scoring just one goal in two home games against Mauritius and Zambia.

“It will be a difficult game but not that tough as we just need to score, at least a goal, and they will come under pressure,” said Dube.
“A goal will change things and we might have played a goalless tie here but we can change all that in Zambia.”

The former Masvingo United and Dynamos goalkeeper says the team was now working on improving their finishing, which will be a crucial factor in the second leg.
Yesterday, the team had a rest day and will resume training this morning.

The goalkeeper, who made a couple of fine saves at Rufaro, says that he is aware that Chipolopolo will attack more at home and he expects a bruising encounter.
“We were better than them but they were more physical,” said Dube.

“They were also more defensive here but in Zambia they will come out of their shell and attack more. l am expecting it and I’m prepared.”
The veteran ‘keeper was also part of the team which was in Zambia for the Cosafa Championship last month but didn’t play a single match.

Zambia beat Zimbabwe 2-0 in the final despite the Warriors having the majority of possession.
“In the Cosafa Cup final we outclassed them but could not score while they managed to score twice,” said Dube.

“We just need to score if we are to qualify in this tournament.
“We have failed to score past them in two matches but have to improve on that and try and get a goal early at the weekend.”

Scoring have been a headache for Gorowa’s charges, since their goal-scoring spree in the first game in Mauritius, and the gaffer will be hoping that his players find their shooting range.

Two more players Kuda Mahachi and Bruce Kangwa have been added to the squad.
Tendai Ndoro, who has been used as the main striker so far, is away in South Africa for trials although he is expected to be back in time to join his teammates on their trip to Zambia. The lack of players that can be trusted to score regularly for the Warriors reflect the shortage of strikers in the domestic Premiership at the moment.

Gorowa will be hoping that FC Platinum Nelson Maziwisa, who was in South Africa for trials, is not called again before the weekend tie.
The other strikers in the team are CAPS United forward Dominic Chungwa and FC Platinum’s Charles Sibanda.