Maruwa in first final

Noel Munzabwa

FOUR months into his first head coaching job, Hebert Maruwa led Green Mamba into the Swazi Bank Sidla Kanje Cup final.

Mbabane Swallows now stands between him and the gold medal.

Maruwa brushed aside the timid challenge from Tarisai Changaraaï¿½ï¿½s Tambuti FC 3-1 to book a date for the 8 May final which has a million emalangeni (R8 million) and CAF Confederations Cup berth.

This was the first meeting between the two Zimbabwe born coaches and Maruwa said he cherished every moment of the match.

aï¿½?It was a great game featuring two Zimbabwe born coaches. Imagine fighting in a foreign land…itaï¿½ï¿½s good for our football. It was just not a normal game but a major cup at a semi final stage.

aï¿½?I would like to congratulate my fellow brother for taking his team to the semi-finals. Considering they play in the first division it shows he is doing a fantastic job.

aï¿½?They worked very hard. Only the experience made the difference. I am also happy to reach a cup final in a foreign land where you are supposed to work extra hard to prove you are better than locals.

He hoped to break the ground onto the African soccer safari with a dream of meeting a Zimbabwe soccer club.

aï¿½?You have to make sure you deserved to be hired. Itaï¿½ï¿½s a major cup, if we win it we participate in Africa maybe play the team which wins the Chibuku Cup in Zimbabwe.

aï¿½?Itaï¿½ï¿½s good I have been here for less than seven months and it shows we as Green Mamba are in the right track. We are yet to lose a league match in the second half of the season.

aï¿½?We lost one match in the cup game, a semi final of another major cup since I took over as head coach.aï¿½?

Mamba targeted to keep Tambuti under pressure and prone to errors.

aï¿½?For the Tambuti game our game plan was to get an early goal to unsettle them and also to press them high and force them to make mistakes.

aï¿½?That worked and we punished them and got two early goals and another goal in the second half within the first 15 minutes. They tried to come back but we had already killed the game,aï¿½? said Maruwa.

Changara praised Maruwa for the progress with Mamba.

aï¿½?He has done a good job in changing the teamaï¿½ï¿½s type of play, the team has changed a lot as they had been accustomed to playing long balls.

aï¿½?But ever since Hebert started coaching them they have switched to building from the back and they are now patient with their build-ups unlike the previous coaches used to play power play.

aï¿½?I can see he is doing a good job because they now have pace when going forward especially their wingers. They are very disciplined on the field of play and he doesnaï¿½ï¿½t shout at his players.

aï¿½?He is always motivating them that is why Iaï¿½ï¿½m confident he can win the Swazi Bank Cup. I can see the players are enjoying playing under him and for him,aï¿½? said Changara.

The coach looks set for more battles next season and it is almost certain Changara will rediscover the giant killing charm. .