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Augustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
DEFENSIVE midfielder Willard Katsande was a target of criticism from a section of the fans after he failed to turn up for the Warriors’ preliminary round, first leg qualifier against Tanzania but yesterday the hardman’s presence in the team failed to change the misfortunes for Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe have now bowed out of the African Cup of Nations soccer campaign and will have to wait until the start of the qualifiers of the 2017 edition.
Katsande missed the first leg in Dar-as-Salam when Zimbabwe lost 1-0 two weeks ago.
Yesterday the Kaizer Chiefs enforcer scored Zimbabwe’s second goal when he finished off a delivery by Denver Mukamba in the 54th minute.
By then Zimbabwe had been trailing two goals from Thomas Ulimwengu and Nadir Haroud, although the Warriors had got off to a fine start when Danny Phiri scored their opener in the third minute.
After the match yesterday, Katsande, just like most Zimbabweans, was very low but said the whole nation should pick up the pieces and move on.
“Luck was not on our side but we really appreciate the support that was shown by the fans. We have to look forward to the future.
“I think we need to focus on the next campaign because we still have a lot of youngsters in the squad,” said Katsande.
Katsande believes the players did their best but it was not good enough to secure them a place in the next round. Zimbabwe have only played at the 2004 and 2006 Nations Cup finals and once again the football gods have turned their backs on the Warriors for the 2015 edition.
“We created a lot of chances but it’s just that luck was not our side. We could not convert the chances but we dominated for the greater part of the match,” said Katsande.
At 28 years, Katsande feels that he still has the role to play in the national team.
“I still feel that I have got a lot to offer for this national team. Age is still on my side and I am looking forward to the next campaign and the World Cup as well,” he said.
Having missed the first leg, the former Gunners player said he was under pressure to deliver and was happy that he managed to score but overally he was dejected by the outcome of the match.
“When one chooses to be a professional football player, then one has to expect the pressure always. However, I was not under much pressure because I was with the 10 players to make up the team.
“But I was hungry to help the nation to progress to the next stage but it was unfortunate,” said Katsande.
After the final whistle, a section of angry Zimbabwean fans, feeling hard done by the exit from the qualifiers, threw missile at Warriors players notably Eric Chipeta, Patson Jaure and George Chigova.
A dejected Warriors coach Ian Gorowa said he needed time to digest the defeat before he could face the media while Zimbabwe will not wait to try for the 2017 edition of the Nations Cup.
While the Zimbabwe camp was down, the visitors were naturally excited at progressing to the next round with midfielder Amuri Kiemba believing that they deserved their place in the next round where they will face Mozambique.
“Football is a game of chances, we got our chances and utilised them. Zimbabwe are not a bad team but the game plan was to defend in the second half and that’s why the coaches took off the midfielders and added defenders.
“But we felt the referee was always punishing us. I have never seen such kind of officiating,” said the Simba Stars player.
Online Reporter