adminZIMBABWE soccer supporters’ leader Eddie “Mboma” Nyatanga has hailed the Warriors following their qualification for the 2017 edition of the African Cup of Nations soccer finals in Gabon.
The Warriors dismissed Malawi 3-0 yesterday at the National Sports Stadium to book their place at the AFCON finals next year with a game in hand.
Nyatanga said the qualification came at the right time with the formation of the National Football Association of Zimbabwe following the resolution to dissolve ZIFA over the weekend at an extraordinary meeting convened at the ZIFA Village.
“We have qualified and at the same time we needed re-branding. And I think it was done at the right time. It was very important that we rebrand. This thing was worked on since (Philip) Chiyangwa came into office. It’s a milestone and at the same time we are happy we have qualified. We have to be focused.
“We want to hail the Warriors for qualifying for Gabon with a game to spare. Everyone put an effort, we were pulling in one direction as a country including the sponsors,” said Nyatanga.
The Warriors’ qualification comes in less than two months after the Mighty Warriors qualified for the Africa Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon later this year.
And Nyatanga said while the nation is celebrating the Warriors’ qualification for the 2017 AFCON finals, there is need to focus on the women’s team that has an immediate assignment, the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in August.
The senior women’s side qualified for the Olympics last year in October, writing their own piece of history as they became the first football team from this country to qualify for the Games.
“In the meantime let’s concentrate on women first. Let’s work together and make sure our women’s team goes to Brazil. Let’s give them the necessary support and not be biased towards men,” said Nyatanga.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwean sports stars have joined the rest of the country in congratulating the Warriors for making it to next year’s edition of the Africa Cup of Nations soccer finals following their 3-0 victory over Malawi at the National Sports Stadium.
Their qualification — with a game in hand — was aided by Swaziland’s 1-0 win over Guinea in Mbabane yesterday.
Zimbabwe Sevens rugby captain Hilton Mudariki — whose side will next week travel to Monaco for the Olympic qualifier play-off — said: “So happy for them! Just shows with a bit of backing and hard work it is possible to go to the next level!
“It was awesome to see the National Sports Stadium full with the nation behind them! It really inspired me and I’m proud to be Zimbabwean today.
“Unfortunately I was busy studying so I just missed the first goal but managed to catch the rest of the game and as I said I was pretty pumped to see us in the lead. Thought they played well. Thought they stuck to their game-plan and it was brilliant in defence as they didn’t concede a goal,” said Mudariki.
The Zimbabwe Davis Cup tennis team non-playing captain Martin Dzuwa added: “What the Warriors have achieved is good for the game, it’s good for local sport. We hope that cricket will also emulate such when they take on India soon, and in tennis (against Georgia in the Davis Cup relegation play-off)
“I am happy they qualified with a big win. Sport is a big industry and needs investment. Results only come when there is investment and this is what has been happening in local football.
“This shows that Zifa (now National Football Association of Zimbabwe) is doing something right and we can just be happy,” said Dzuwa. — Sports Reporter /Sportszone.co.zw
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