Online Reporter
Blessing Malinganiza
Zimpapers Sports Hub
KAITANO Tembo may have used the Unity Cup in London to experiment and give players a chance to prove themselves, but he has difficult decisions to make ahead of him.
Selections from now may need to be the correct team that will help the nation qualify for the AFCON qualifiers that effectively start in September.
And chances are high that some of the players that made the London camp — where the Warriors lost 2-0 to Nigeria and won 1-0 against India to get third place — may not make the team in the future.
Some of the players that were not part of the team but considered key players include Tawanda Maswanhise, Bill Antonio, Teenage Hadebe and possibly veteran Knowledge Musona. This means when serious business begins, some of the players will have to make way while there could be two or three more surprise packages coming in depending on weaknesses Tembo wants to deal with.
Midfielder Tawanda Chirewa believes Zimbabwe have valuable lessons to take from the recent Unity Cup.
The 22-year-old featured in both of Zimbabwe’s matches at the four-nation tournament.
“I think there are a lot of positives that we can take from the tournament,” said Chirewa.
“Obviously, whenever you put on the Zimbabwe shirt, you want to win every game, but it is also important to look at the progress we made as a team over the course of the competition.” The midfielder said the squad became more comfortable together with each match.
“For many of us, it was another opportunity to spend time together in camp, understand each other better and continue building relationships on and off the pitch,” he said.
“The team grew with every game. The understanding improved, the communication got better and everyone became clearer about their roles within the system.”
The Unity Cup served as part of Zimbabwe’s preparations for upcoming international assignments and gave the technical team an opportunity to assess combinations and younger players.
“From a tactical point of view, I felt we were disciplined and organised,” said Chirewa.
“We worked hard for each other and tried to follow the instructions from the coaches. There are still areas where we can improve, but the foundation is there.”
Chirewa, who has promised much and could be crucial for the future, said the experience of playing alongside senior internationals continues to aid the development of younger players.
“When you have experienced players and younger players coming through, tournaments like this are very important,” he said.
“They help us learn from one another and build the chemistry that you need to be successful in competitive matches.”
With Zimbabwe now looking ahead to future Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers, Chirewa said the focus must be on building on the gains made in London.
“There is a lot of potential in this group,” he said.
“The important thing now is not to stop here. We have to take the lessons from the Unity Cup, keep improving and make sure we are ready when the competitive matches come because those are the games that matter most.”
