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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE National Soccer Supporters Association founding leader, Eddie “Mboma” Nyatanga, says Norman Mapeza should be given a chance to lead the Warriors through to next year’s AFCON finals.
Nyatanga yesterday told The Herald the Warriors should focus on the AFCON finals to be held in January, next year in Cameroon.
“I think we should quickly regroup and look to the future,’’ he said.
“Mapeza should be given a chance to work with this team. We have the AFCON finals coming up in January, and it’s only just over two months away.
“We must try to put the World Cup disappointment behind us.
“As a nation, we are all disappointed and we have the right to feel that way because we all wanted our team to play at the World Cup.
“But, this campaign was not meant for us from the start. We lost the plot from the start, under Zdravko Logarusic, and we had high expectations on Mapeza, but it was not to be.
“So, this is not the time to be fighting one another over the results. Instead, let’s find a way of rising up from this disappointment without disintegrating completely.
“The boys played well in Ghana but then they failed to reproduce the form at home. But, we all saw some positive signs.
“The team needs just a few adjustments.
“Mapeza should start the preparations for the AFCON finals and he has to make full use of the last two games against South Africa and Ethiopia.’’
He also said Government and the corporate world should invest more in the national team.
Zimbabwe undertook a gruelling 24-hour journey back home for the return leg on a commercial flight and arrived several hours after the Ghanaians.
“The Warriors are a national project and it was disheartening to see them arriving home later than Ghana,’’ he said.
“I am happy that there are some corporates, like Sakunda, who have demonstrated intense interest in football.
“Our plea is for such companies, and more, to consider supporting the Warriors so that Zimbabwe gets back to its glory days.’’
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