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Eddie Chikamhi in CAPE TOWN, South Africa—-
ZIMBABWE international midfielder Kuda Mahachi, who has become the darling of many supporters here after his standout performances for the Warriors, says they are not looking at an early return home and want to go all the way to the final. The Warriors have a huge battle on their hands, against Burkina Faso on Monday, in the final match of their group campaign.
Zimbabwe need just a win to progress to the quarter-finals of the 2014 CHAN tournament and, in the process, become the first Zimbabwean side to progress beyond the group stages of a continental football tourney.
Although Zimbabwe are in third place, with just two points from as many games, they will secure a ticket into the last eight with a win against the Burkinabe Stallions who helped their cause by scoring late, in a 1-1 draw against Morocco, on Thursday night.
Mahachi, who has been the heartbeat of this Warriors team with brilliant runs down the flanks, yesterday promised that the goals will eventually come if they maintain their momentum going into the last game.
He revealed that coach Ian “Dibango” Gorowa told them that they will return home after the final in February and nothing has changed.
“The coach has told us that we are returning home after February 2 because we are aiming for the final,” Mahachi told The Herald.
“So that is the mentality we have and it’s something that is achievable if we take our chances.”
Zimbabwe’s strikers have been disappointing in front of goal but the team has remained in contention, at this CHAN tourney.
Mahachi, the diminutive Chicken Inn midfielder who is on his way to Mamelodi Sundowns, has won the hearts of many football fans because of his artistry and the way he has created chances for his teammates in their two group games.
He believes the Warriors have played well, with very little rewards, in their matches against Uganda and Morocco.
“I think we are playing good football as a team and we are getting into the scoring positions. It’s just that the goals are eluding us and, sometimes, you would think that we are being unlucky,” said Mahachi.
“I don’t know how we are getting it wrong when it comes to finishing the chances that we are getting but I am sure if we keep focused in the last game the goals will come.
“They (the goals) will eventually come and we need to keep believing in ourselves.”
Zimbabwe have created a host of opportunities for themselves, with Mahachi being the creative hub of all their best moves, but they have lacked the killer instinct in front of goal with a number of excellent chances being wasted.
Ian Gorowa’s men could have easily made life easier for themselves had they been more precise in front of goal, which would have given them wins against Uganda and Morocco given their dominance, and they would have secured their place in the last eight long before they play their final group game.
The Warriors point men in attack, Donald Ngoma and Simba Sithole, have not provided the firepower that the team needed to bury their opponents after fluffing a host of scoring opportunities in the first two games.
The team’s chances of qualifying for the knockout stage are still high, though, as Morocco and Uganda will cancel out each other in their last group match on Monday while the Warriors need just a win against Burkina Faso to sail through.
Uganda lead the group with four points while Zimbabwe and Morocco are tied on two points apiece, with Burkina Faso lying at the bottom of the table with a single point.
Burkina Faso handed the Warriors a big favour when they held Morocco to a 1-1 draw to blow the group wide open, while they also gave themselves hopes for their own survival going into the clash against Zimbabwe.
Both teams need to win the encounter and Mahachi believes they need to pull up their socks.
“We respect Burkina Faso. I believe they are just as good as any other team at this tournament. But we understand that for us to qualify for the next stage we have to win this game by all means,” said Mahachi.
“Chances are high that we can win that game but it’s important, as well, to stay focused and play our own game, not looking at how other teams will perform.”
The Warriors have been warmly supported since their first game by Zimbabweans, resident here, and a group of supporters who travelled from Zimbabwe to cheer the boys.
Mahachi has become the poster boy of the team and every touch that he makes has triggered a thunderous roar from the fans who believe he is the talisman who can make a difference for their team’s cause.
“The supporters have been fantastic and we have to chalk out a win to repay them for rallying behind us,” said Mahachi.
“It has been difficult but on Monday the goals will come.”
Online Reporter