Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
Botswana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 0
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) 3
NOW that was fast and furious.
A football philosophy that is anchored in thinking fast, moving the ball fast, executing the pass fast and pulling the trigger very fast was on show in a rare blistering start to a match by the Warriors at Obed Itani Chilume in Francistown last night.
The fast and furious are the components which Warriors coach Marian “Mario” Marinica spelt out when he was appointed to the helm last November.
And they were all in full display when Zimbabwe overcame the hosts in the second of two semi-final matches.
Winger Bill Antonio was the chief whip with a brace of assists for flying newboy Mongameli Tshuma and Macauley Bonne, which was later deemed an own goal.
Antonio capped his best night in Warriors colours to date with a goal of his own as Marinica’s men sealed a dominant first half that set a date in the final against Zambia on Tuesday at the same venue.
Chipolopolo beat Malawi 9-8 on penalties, whose long duration ate into a chunk of the warm-up time reserved for Zimbabwe and Botswana.
That meant a delay in the scheduled 6pm kick-off time of the second semi-final.
But when business started, the Warriors were clearly in no mood for compromise deals.
But then, facing a full Zebras side, the Warriors were a bit jittery, especially in the final third early on, before they settled, and thankfully, it was not long enough before they got into the groove.
Before Botswana even got themselves into it, Godknows Murwira, playing high up down the left channel, switched play to Emmanuel Jalai, who laid the ball onto Antonio.
The Belgium-based star locked his marker down before sending a super cross that Highlanders newboy Tshuma expertly guided home to open the scoring for the guests with 22 minutes on the clock. Just before that, Teenage Hadebe had fluffed a good chance when he got to the end of a flick-on by Jonah Fabisch, off a Gerald Takwara long throw.
Then the floodgates opened
Ten minutes later, Antonio was repeating his magic on the right flank before rolling yet another cross that Bonne did justice to.
And the match was as good as done from then on given how the Warriors were dominating proceedings.
Botswana tried to punch back, but they could not match the midfield genius in captain Marvelous Nakamba and Fabisch.
There was simply no way through for the Zebras.
Then just a minute before the break, Bonne ran down the left before crossing to Antonio who hit the roof of the net from close range.
What was left for Zimbabwe was just to manage the game off.
And that is what they did, thanks to Marinica whose changes ensured the solidity that the Warriors needed at the back.
But the clean sheet did not come without real threats as goalkeeer Elvis Chipezeze had to summon all his elasticity to save a penalty conceded by Hadebe late in. Despite the comprehensive win, Marinica felt his charges had not found it easy on the night.
“I would say that was quite a difficult match. Yes, you could say that we made it easy at some point, but Botswana is not an easy team,” he said.
“They have good players who are quite fast, and they gave us different problems in the second half. On the other hand, the players did an absolutely perfect job looking at the way we started in the first half.
“We had a game plan. The game plan worked to perfection in the first half.
“On the other hand, I’m extremely pleased we had a little bit of time, not too much time, and we tried to integrate some players, more experience, with some players, with a bit less experience, and it was a fantastic exercise for us.
“I think, having said that, we need this type of matches more often, and I think it’s for the benefit of every single country to have these friendly competitive matches to get us a chance to expose the players and to give them, you know, exposure. At the same time, the experience that we needed, you know, to go and win major competitions.
Antonio, who was the darling of the stadium at the sound of the final whistle said: “As a team we are happy. It’s always good to win. It’s for the country, it’s for the fans.”
This is the first time in decades that Zimbabwe have also scored three goals without conceding and Marinica will be hoping for more of the same when Chipolopolo come knocking on Chipezeze’s goal on Tuesday.
Teams
Botswana: Ezekiel Morake, Botsile Sakana, Tlamelo Kolagano, Noco Babutsi, Ratlhogo Ratlogo,Theo Shadikong (Omphile Ramoagi 46 min), Monty Enosa, Lotsika Ratshuku (Godfrey Tauyatswala 46 min), Erick Ookame, Tshepo Keselebale, Tebogo Kopelang
Zimbabwe: Elvis Chipezeze, Emmanuel Jalai (Andrew Mbeba 74min), Gerald Takwara, Munashe Garananga (Isheanesu Mauchi 20 min), Teenage Hadebe, Jonah Fabisch, Marvelous Nakamba, Godknows Murwira (Shane Maroodza 74 min), Mongameli Tshuma (Panashe Makwiramiti 82 min), Bill Antonio (Daniel Msendami 46 min), Macauley Bonne (Washington Navaya 82 min)
