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Debut match goal hero, Macauley Miles Bonne of Warriors says he is inspired by his goal against Morocco in Agadir on Sunday evening. The UK Colchester player put Zimbabwe in the lead on 18 minutes following a build up on the right channel which saw him through to send a cracker past the home team’s goalminder. Played as a twin anchormen with Caps United’s Charles Mukanhairi, Bonne shone like a beacon in that role winning balls in aerial tussles and on the ground and covering a lot of ground.
He said he was happy with having found the target on his first match for Zimbabwe. He was one of three foreign players included in a two fold building Zimbabwe side which played beyond expectations. The Warriors are using a series of matches to build a team for the African Under-23 Championships, All-Africa Games and Olympics apart from the future senior national team after Zifa dissolved the previous first team following a disastrous 2015 Afcon qualifier against Tanzania in June. Coach Callisto Pasuwa assembled a youthful side giving caps to striker David Moyo from Northampton and Leeds United’s Munya Mbanje.
“I am happy with having scored on my debut. I just said to myself I will keep on pushing upfront and when an opportunity presents itself I will shoot at goal. My first attempt was to the same spot and was saved but the second proved too hot for the goalkeeper and we were one up. “I am grateful for the chance presented to me to play for my country and I look forward to more call ups,” said Bonne. He said he had enjoyed himself with the young Zimbabwe side which played a full strength Morocco side.
“Naturally we were jittery at first but I realised we were just as competent as they were, credit to the guys for the brave fight,” said Bonne. He won praises for his workrate from coach Pasuwa as he covered every blade of the pitch with Mukanhairi. They supported each other well. Moyo was happy with having a run too. “It was a new experience for me and playing a different game altogether. The guys were great, they made us feel at home, I hope with more time at training together we can get better. I know I can play better and score goals for my country I need to adjust to how the other guys play and what coaches want,” said Moyo. He was made to play as a lone striker and soon ran out of steam as he was expected to press the last four defenders as Zimbabwe threw more personnel into defence to thwart Moroccan raids.
Donovan Bernard of How Mine played a game of his life with a number of brilliant saves, the twin towers of Douglas Sibanda, a Highlanders player on loan to Shabanie and lanky Bantu Rovers’ Teenage Hadebe played as if their lives depended on the result of the game.
Despite the boys playing their hearts out they had no allowances for their time away from home since Thursday. During Friday’s eight hour wait at Dubai International Airport, manager Patrick Mutesva was forced to dip into his own pockets to provide dinner and breakfast for the team. On the return trip yesterday, there was another eight hour stopover in Dubai and a Zimbabwean working for Emirates provided the team with meals and drinks. The Zimbabwean team arrived shortly after 5PM following an 18-hour journey from Agadir, Morocco.
Head of delegation Tawengwa Hara said they were hoping to settle the allowances issue at home and praised the delegation for good behaviour despite the challenges faced by the motherbody.
Online Reporter