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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS defender Alec Mudimu says that new coach Norman Mapeza has brought in a new measure of discipline into the Zimbabwe national football team.
Mapeza, who returned on an interim basis late last year after taking over from Zdravko Logarusic, will be in the thick of things at the 2021 AFCON tournament, which begins next week in Cameroon, after his short contract was extended ahead of the biennial football event.
But Mapeza’s presence in Cameroon is a slap in the face of some egotistic members of the suspended ZIFA board, who had wanted to sacrifice the team’s participation in their boardroom battles with the Sports and Recreation Commission.
The members of the Felton Kamambo board were suspended by Sports Commission on November 16 over allegations of mismanagement and sexual harassment of female referees.
Recently they came out with guns blazing and declaring Mapeza’s appointment by the ZIFA secretariat as null and void, in a statement replete with threats to the coach and the secretariat.
The ZIFA secretariat is currently running the game in the absence of the board, and have been working hand in hand with the Sports Commission to ensure the Warriors participates at the continental football jamboree.
Mapeza becomes the fourth coach to lead Zimbabwe at the AFCON tournament after Sunday Chidzambwa (2004 and 2019), Charles Mhlauri (2006) and Callisto Pasuwa (2017).
Warriors defender Mudimu said Mapeza has managed to bring in a new measure of discipline in the squad.
“The discipline that we have now with the new coach is second to none. I feel everybody has really stepped up his game in training. The smallest things in discipline are second to none,” said Mudimu.
The Warriors became the first team in Group B to arrive in Cameroon for the AFCON tournament where they are set to make a fifth appearance at the continental football showpiece.
Morale is high in the Warriors’ camp despite the ultimatum from FIFA to have the suspended board reinstated by Monday or the nation gets banned.
“The morale is good, which is a great thing despite Covid-19 and other factors happening. The nation has been able to keep everything stabilised for us to be able to going to take part at AFCON.
“Everyone has some sort of a buzz about everything, which is something we can ask for. It’s a big tournament and we are full of confidence,” said Mudimu.
Zimbabwe are set to play their first practice game against Sudan in Yaounde tomorrow. Mapeza wants to use the game to work on combinations. The Warriors are also looking to play hosts Cameroon in another warm-up game on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe are in Group B at the 2021 AFCON tournament along with Malawi, Senegal and Guinea. The Warriors will play their first two group matches against Senegal and Malawi at Kouekong Stadium in Bafoussam on January 10 and January 14.
They will then shift to Yaoundé for the final group match against Guinea on January 18 at the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium.
Zimbabwe have never gone past the group stages at the tournament but the players are confident of upsetting the apple cart despite carrying the underdogs tag.
“Our chances are the same as everyone else. We have got a big chance, now we have got a new-wish technical team and they are doing the right things. The players are doing the right things in training; we’re doing what they want and it’s working for us.
“I feel we have prepared as much as we can with the time. It has given us a big boost and I feel it also gives us a big chance against our opponents,” said Mudimu.
This will be the 26-year-old’s second AFCON participation. He played the opening two games against Egypt and Uganda at the last AFCON tournament in Egypt and was ruled out of the last match against DRC due to injury.
“Obviously my AFCON debut wasn’t the best… but the last AFCON is gone. Let’s take the positives and learn from the deficits and move forward. I feel this is the right time.
“We have to take each game as it comes. We have to continue working hard and sticking together. I feel this group is really solid. The bond is amazing so personally I am looking forward to it more than anything else,” said Mudimu.
Zimbabwe lost key players like Marvelous Nakamba, Marshall Munetsi and Brendan Galloway to injuries while Khama Billiat and Tendayi Darikwa excused themselves from section.
Still Mapeza has some experienced players in the mould of skipper Knowledge Musona, Onismor Bhasera, Teenage Hadebe, Thabani Kamusoko, Kuda Mahachi and Mudimu, who are the only players that have played football at AFCON finals before.
Musona and the quartet of overseas-based players that include Tino Kadewere, Admiral Muskwe, David Moyo and Jordan Zemura are expected to join the squad in time for the second friendly match next Wednesday.
These five players will miss the first friendly game against Sudan tomorrow, after their clubs requested more time before they could release them.
The AFCON tournament will be played in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2022.
Warriors AFCON 2021 Squad
GOALKEEPERS: Petros Mhari (FC Platinum), Martin Mapisa (FC Zamora), Talbert Shumba (Free State Stars)
DEFENDERS: Peter Muduwa (Highlanders), Alec Mudimu (Torpedo Kutaisi), Takudzwa Chimwemwe (Nkana), Jordan Zemura (AFC Bournemouth), Godknows Murwira, Gerald Takwara (Venda Football Academy), Teenage Hadebe (Houston Dynamo), Bruce Kangwa (Azam), Onismor Bhasera (SuperSport United)
MIDFIELDERS: Kelvin Madzongwe (FC Platinum), Thabani Kamusoko (Zesco United), Never Tigere (Azam), Kudakwashe Mahachi (SuperSport United), Ishmael Wadi (JDR Stars), Kundai Benyu (Vestri)
STRIKERS: Admiral Muskwe (Luton Town), Prince Dube (Azam) David Moyo (Hamilton Academical) Knowledge Musona (Al-Tai) Tinotenda Kadewere (Olympique Lyonnais)
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