Let’s come support Warriors in numbers

AFTER an absence spanning over two years the Zimbabwe Warriors make a welcome return to Bulawayo, this time to do battle with Lesotho in an African Nations Championship qualifier.
Ironically, the Zimbabwe national cricket team the Chevrons are also in town after a long absence as they battle Afghanistan in an ODI Series that started on Friday at Queens Sports Club.

Our beloved Warriors go into battle against “little” Lesotho as they seek their fourth CHAN qualification.
It’s familiar territory for our guys as they have made three successive CHAN appearances. And we should “keep up appearances” and making it 4 by annihilating Likuena (the crocodiles) in the first of the two-legged affair for the final ticket to Rwanda.

But do we have to remind each other that the Warriors, our Warriors, are no doubt this soccer mad nation’s most prized sporting possession. When they do well the whole country forget life’s perils, when they sneeze we all catch the cold.

Remember this is the side that charmed us all at the last CHAN tournament in neighbouring South Africa when they claimed a credible fourth place finish.

Yes coach Kalisto Pasuwa we are hoping for nothing short of a convincing victory to give us the momentum, the early initiative, ahead of a potentially bruising encounter in the return and final leg in Lesotho.

Of course we boast of a good record against Lesotho. But should we read too much into that?
The Warriors have played Lesotho 16 times since 1981, winning 12 times, drawing three times and losing only once.

But that record might sound as if our job has been cut out for us. No, we should be wary, lest the crocodiles sink us in our own territory.

However, as we go into this match, we have to prove that “local is lekker’’ as the CHAN tournament is only open to those playing in local leagues in Africa. This is our chance to prove that our local league has a lot to offer in terms of personnel.

There is only one result that we need and that is nothing short of victory and victory we think we will get.
Therefore the challenge to the natives of Bulawayo and its environs is that we should compliment the Zifa benevolence of bringing this match to Bulawayo by going to BF in our numbers. And the rallying and collective call should be: Go Warriors Go.