adminHarare Bureau
WARRIORS coach Ian Gorowa says his history-making troops at the recent Chan tournament will form the core of the national team as attention now shifts to the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Gorowa yesterday praised his bunch of locally-based players and challenged the foreign-based contingent to fight for places after his troops marched to an heroic semi-final finish at the tournament that ended in South Africa at the weekend.
The Warriors, who arrived home on Monday night, were received at a welcome ceremony by Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Thabitha Kanengoni-Malinga.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ceremony Gorowa, who is expected to resume contract talks with the Zifa management, said he was impressed by the team chemistry and is now bracing for the Afcon qualifiers set to begin in May.
The Warriors coach also revealed they have received several offers for friendly matches, which he now hopes to use to build a formidable squad for the Afcon and World Cup competitions.
Zimbabwe concluded their tour at the Chan tournament on Saturday when they lost 0-1 to Nigeria in the third place play-off but they could count themselves unlucky after losing the semi-final on penalties to Libya.
Zifa chief executive Jonathan Mashingaidze also hailed the Warriors for their gallant efforts and promised that a meeting will be held soon to determine their rewards.
Zimbabwe took home $250, 000 for finishing fourth.
Kanengoni-Malinga promised that government would ensure the players get all the outstanding fees and bonuses owed to them.
She said government was also seeking to rope in the business community to harness more resources for the team.
The Warriors surpassed their own targets as they had qualified for the previous two editions of the tournament and failed to progress from the group stages on both occasions.
However, Gorowa believes they could have done better had they taken their chances.
While the defence was their mainstay, the Warriors were let down by their poor finishing as they managed only three goals in the five matches they played at the tournament.
Online Reporter