Warriors maintain top spot

From Petros Kausiyo in RUSTENBURG, SA
Zimbabwe 1-0 Seychelles
DOMINANT Zimbabwe put one foot into the Cosafa Cup quarter-final after a hard fought win over a disciplined Seychelles in a Group A tie at Moruleng Stadium here last night.

The Warriors were frustrated for long periods on the night as the Indian Ocean islanders turned on a solid defending show for the second time in as many games in this competition.

It needed a fine strike from Harare City forward Talent Chawapihwa in the 53rd minute to break the Seychelles resistance and ensure the Warriors retain their place at the top of the Group A standings.

Zimbabwe are the only team in the group with a 100 percent record.

But if they had found a relatively easier opening game against Mauritius, whom they beat 2-0, the Warriors were made to sweat for their victory last night as Seychelles put up the same kind of ultra-defensive style that worked for them in their 0-0 draw against Namibia.

Yet Zimbabwe coach Saul Chaminuka had warned that his players needed to play a quicker game and also vary their attacking options in order to open up Seychelles.

Try as they did to attack mainly from the flanks where they had Carlos Rusere on the left and Chawapihwa on the right, the Warriors could only manage just single goal for their labour.

Chaminuka said although he was disappointed with the glut of chances that his team missed, he drew positives from the fact that they had managed to not only control the game but come out with a win that took them closer to a place in the quarter-finals.

The Warriors against Seychelles game was the first of another double-header Group A programme yesterday with Namibia playing against Mauritius in a later game last night. Zimbabwe will wrap up their group assignments with a date against the Brave Warriors of Namibia at the same venue tomorrow.

Warriors goalkeeper George Chigova was untested on the night as Seychelles only managed a single shot on target and two corners against Zimbabwe’s eight.

The SuperSport United goalkeeper was only called into action early on in the first half, albeit to deal with a tame shot from lanky Seychelles forward Karl Hall.

In contrast Seychelles goalkeeper Jose Euphrasie had a busy night trying to repel the Zimbabwe attacks.

Chawapihwa who with more precision could have at least come out with a brace was first denied by the upright from a fine shot struck on the run from about 20 metres out in the 26th minute.

He however, got it right seven minutes after the break when he finished a fine move started by Hardlife Zvirekwi and involving Ronald Chitiyo.

Chawapihwa received the ball from just outside the box, picked his spot and let go a low shot into the far corner of a diving Euphrasie.

Zimbabwe kept asking questions of the Seychelles defence but the Islanders stood resolute and were in no mood to allow the Warriors to come out with a thumping win.

Ironically goalscorer Chawapihwa only started the match because Chaminuka was forced to make just one change to the team that started against Mauritius with the former ZPC Kariba coach missing an injured Pritchard Mphelele.

Chawapihwa had also come on for Mphelele when the Hwange forward was taken off against Mauritius owing to a muscle strain.

Chaminuka said although the Warriors had kept their clean record scoring three and conceding none, he still wants them to keep improving in the final third.

The reigning Castle Lager Premiership Coach of the Year said he was also happy with the manner in which his rookies were fast finding their groove in this tournament.

“It has been quite a frustrating night. I knew about it and I had warned these players that Seychelles are very organised but I think we played well and patiently.

“I’m glad that our goal came in early in the second half which eased the pressure on us and helped to open up Seychelles up a bit.

“It’s unfortunate that we missed a lot chances yet for so many times we went behind them.

“We are not leaving anything to chance and we will have to keep working hard and polish our grey areas,’’ Chaminuka said.

Seychelles coach Ulric Mathiot was happy to have restricted the Warriors to just a narrow win.

Mathiot argued that Seychelles with just a population of 2,500 registered players were still trying to reach the playing levels of Zimbabwe and Namibia but reckoned they could notch at least a win over Indian Ocean rivals Mauritius.

“We tend to play according to the players we have in our country. We are a small nation and we have resolved to build this team by ensuring that they fully understand how to defend.

“I think we are getting there and we now have to work on our transition when going forward.

“We are not yet at the level of playing to the same intensity that we have seen from Zimbabwe or Namibia but we remain positive that we are in the right direction,’’ Mathiot said.

The Warriors had a second player from as many games — Raphael Manuvire — named Man of the Match after Chitiyo was voted the Best Player against Mauritius.

Manuvire who has dramatically recovered from a career-threatening injury was literally out of words as he received his award.

It is the 27-year-old ZPC Kariba forward’s second game in Warriors’ colours.

“I hope this award is the beginning of bigger things to come.

“I’m just hoping that I will get a chance to play in South Africa or Europe,’’ Manuvire said.

Teams

Zimbabwe: George Chigova, Partson Jaure, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Danny Phiri (Captain) Thomas Magorimbo, Evans Rusike Talent Chawapihwa (Livingstone Genti 85th minute), Raphael Manuvire, Carlos Rodwell Rusere (Marshall Mudehwe, 68th minute), Ralph Kawondera, Ronald Chitiyo (Tichaona Chipunza 88th minute).

Seychelles: Jose Euphrasie, Yannick Manoo, Ronny Hoareau, Jones Joubert, Benoit Marie, Colin Esther, Gervas Waye-Hive, Brian Dorby, Karl Hall (Renick Esther 70th minute), Berytrand Esther, Senky Vidot (Mevin Mathiot, 75th minute) .

P W D L F A Pts

Zimbabwe 2 2 0 0 3 0 6

Namibia 2 1 1 0 2 0 4

Seychelles 2 0 1 1 0 1 1

Mauritius 2 0 0 2 0 4 0