admin2-1 triumph over South Africa in an international friendly at Rufaro on Tuesday night.
German-based striker Knowledge Musona fired a second half brace that ensured the Warriors fought from behind to secure victory in the Southern African derby tie after Bradley Grobler had thrust the visitors into the lead after 28 minutes.
Musona got his brace in side eight minutes, first heading home the leveller in the 52nd minute before captailising on a lapse in concentration by Bafana’s Israeli-based defender Bevan Fransman to fire home the winner.
While Musona might have, once again, carried the Warriors with his goals, Mapeza revealed that his main focus was on how his fringe players had applied themselves.
Mapeza gave a run in to seven players who have often been called into camp but would either come on as late substitutes or never made it into the team during the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Defenders Zhaimu Jambo, Tapiwa Khumbuyani, Lincoln Zvasiya, striker Cuthbert Malajila and midfielders Ramson Zhuwawo, Archieford Gutu and Denver Mukamba were all given a run out against Bafana Bafana.
And Mapeza yesterday revealed that he had liked what he saw and reckoned that the Warriors showing on the night bodes well for their future.
Of course there were moments when the Warriors appeared to lose their shape but Mapeza said he had drawn a lot of positives from the Bafana test and felt Tuesday night’s match had underlined the significance of having the national team playing regularly.
“I think we played well, it is good to have these games because it gave us the opportunity to assess some of the players whom we have been calling into camp but have not been getting some game time.
“Players like Zhaimu, Lincoln and Khumbuyani, we have been calling them but they didn’t get to play in the qualifiers.
“I was happy with Lincoln’s spirit, he never panicked or gave up after his mistakes and was very solid in the second half,” Mapeza said.
The coach also said he wanted to partner Zvasiya with Daniel Veremu in the heart of defence but the big FC Flatinum defender had failed to recover in time from a knock he picked up during his team’s explosive Premiership clash with Dynamos at Mandava.
Ironically, Veremu was the villain in that game after he conceded an own goal when heading past his goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube off a Guthrie Zhokinyi free-kick in the second half.
“I wanted to play Veremu and give Thomas Sweswe a rest but he didn’t recover on time even though we had him on the bench. It was the same story with Nyasha Mushekwi, we wanted to give him a run but had stomach problems and was not ready to take to the field,” Mapeza said.
The former Monomotapa coach, however, said he was not happy with his team’s “slow reaction in the first half”.
“Our reaction in the first half was not all that good because we gave South Africa too much room and yet I had told them that Bafana Bafana were very quick away from midfield. I also think we need to work on our defence because there were occasions when they were caught flat.
“But I was also happy to see that there was good understanding between Cuthbert and Knowledge and I was happy too that we used two of the chances that we created.
“We created a number of chances especially from the guys who were playing wide, Zhaimu and Khumbuyani were bringing in quality crosses”.
Mapeza also reckoned that the Bafana Bafana side that South African coach Pitso Mosimane brought to Harare had shown its competitive edge.
“South Africa are a god side and they showed that they have been working hard in their camp, it must remembered that they had a longer camp with 28 players who were preparing for the two matches they played.
“I am surprised that some people saw them as a second string side but players like Teko Modise have played at the highest level and when you look at the way that team played, it showed that they meant business and they came here to win”.
Mapeza also acknowledged that there is a need to broaden his selection base for strikers lest the Warriors fall into the trap of being over reliant on Musona.
“We don’t have enough time to train for such friendlies like this one but it is true we need to identify more strikers and I think with more friendlies we will come good.
“I think we will give players like Roderick Mutuma and other strikers out there a chance to play”.
Mapeza reiterated his appeal against the booing of the Warriors fringe players.
“Some of these guys are still young and the fans need to be patient with them. They were patient with players like Khama and they should have done the same with Zvasiya.
“I appreciate their support and I want to thank our fans for coming out on Tuesday night but I am just surprised that fans want young blood but they are not ready to be patient with the same young players,” Mapeza said.
Online Reporter