MURWIRA HONOURED TO FINALLY LEAD WARRIORS

Tadious Manyepo

Sports Reporter

CAPS United captain, Godknows Murwira, says it is an honour to be handed the responsibility to skipper the Warriors at the COSAFA Cup, which gets underway in Port Elizabeth, South Africa this afternoon.

The team left the country around mid-day yesterday and were expected to touch down Port Elizabeth late in the afternoon.

Murwira was a late addition to Jairos Tapera’s charges.

Zimbabwe makes a return to a tournament where they are the second most successful team (after Zambia) after missing out in 2022 and 2023 due to a FIFA suspension.

The Green Machine defender was only drafted in after the Premier Soccer League indicated they were not breaking for the regional fiesta.

Tapera decided to drop some players from teams who had more than two players in the initial squad.

Given he is the most experienced of the lot, Tapera has handed him the arm-band for the tournament where Zimbabwe will face Comoros, Zambia and Kenya in Group B.

“It is a responsibility that I have accepted with honour and I will do my all to lead my country with dignity,” said Murwira.

“I am very happy to be the leader of this great group of players and I think it is really a privilege to carry a beautiful nation’s dreams on your shoulders.

“We have a pool of talented players in the squad and what we need to do is play very well, put our bodies on the line and be the ambassadors to carry the country over the line in this COSAFA tournament.

“I know we have a lot of good leaders in the team as well and it is an honour to be selected to wear the armband for my country.”

Murwira, Emmanuel Jalai, Raphael Pitisi, McKinnon Mushore and Washington Mapuwa of Greenfuel were added to the squad on Sunday.

Tapera yesterday said Murwira was the natural choice for the captaincy.

“There is no doubting Murwira’s leadership qualities. He has seen it all in the trenches and he is also captaining one of the biggest teams in the country — CAPS United,” said Tapera.

“Murwira has played football at the highest level for more than a decade and this is a relatively young team that needs someone like him.”

Zimbabwe open their campaign against Comoros at 3pm tomorrow.