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Tadious Manyepo, Sports Reporter
WARRIORS star Walter Musona has refused to be swayed by the sweet brace he scored in Zimbabwe’s 3-1 win over Namibia in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Monday, which has triggered a frenzied wave of comparison with his elder brother Knowledge.
Knowledge Musona, who captained the Warriors for over four years was the last player to score at least two goals for the country in a single match when he grabbed a hat-trick against Liberia in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier before his international retirement in 2022.
Efforts by Zimbabwe coach Michael Nees to talk the former Kaizer Chiefs man back into the Warriors fold have hit a snag with the Saudi-based striker insisting he has had his time with the national team.
Given the starring role, that Walter played against Namibia as Zimbabwe completed a double over the Brave Warriors to move closer to qualification, comparisons have inevitably been drawn between the brothers.
The two goals, one of them a sharp volley that caught the Namibian goalkeeper off his line took the Simba Bhora captain’s tally to four goals in the senior national team’s colours where Knowledge scored 24 playing in more or less the same role.
The five-star showing in that match even earned Walter a place in the CAF 2025 AFCON qualifiers’ team of the week.
While it is not only about the number of goals one manages to score, Walter says it would be naïve of him should even entertain the idea that he could be able to fit in his elder brother’s shoes.
Knowledge also earned himself legendary status for featuring at the three Nations Cup tournaments for the Warri-ors.
“It’s always good to score two goals in a single match and it’s even sweeter to get them in an international match,” Walter said.
That’s the highest level and it always feels good.
“I can just thank God for giving me the strength and my Warriors teammates for working very hard in coming up with those goals.
“It was important for us to win that match against Namibia because we knew the two last games would not be easy.
“So, we did well as a team and managed to give ourselves a very good chance in terms of qualification for the Africa Cup of Nations,” Walter said.
He also spoke about his performance in the convincing win over the Brave Warriors.
“Individually I am very happy for the performance I put together in that game against Namibia. It was an enjoyable game where we were spot on in terms of the crucial aspects of the game.
“I am happy to have made the CAF team of the week. But that never in any way puts me on the same path with Knowledge.
“Look, Knowledge is my brother and I know his capabilities very well. He is in a class of his own and I don’t, even in my wildest of imaginations, think I will reach even half of his capacity.
“He is my brother and I think that’s where the similarities end, not on the football pitch. He is just too good to draw comparisons from me.
“I try to learn a lot of things from what he does. He inspires me a lot but his level is certainly different. I can only try to become the best version of Walter as much as I can because I know Knowledge is miles ahead.”
Walter said he would have wanted to play alongside Knowledge in the Warriors set-up. His revelations also seemed to end any speculation that Knowledge might just bounce back to the Warriors fold.
“That would have been a dream come true. I always wished to play in the same team as him but that didn’t happen and I was thinking we would play in the national team together as well but also that hasn’t happened”.
“But that’s what football is all about.
“My brother is retired from international football now and there is little that I can do.
“But what I know is I have learnt a lot from him in football and life. I can’t be compared with him because he does things and I try to emulate.”
Away from the Warriors, Walter has a huge task at hand as he immediately goes to Simba Bhora, an ambitious outfit that is seeking a league and cup double in the Zimbabwe top-flight.
They lead second-placed FC Platinum by nine points going into the last five league games.
In fact, Simba Bhora need only six points to ensure they win the league to become the only second team after Gun-ners in 2009 to win the title in only their second season in the top-flight.
With a Chibuku Super Cup semi-final date against Ngezi Platinum Stars beckoning, Simba Bhora remain well on course for possible double.
Online Reporter