adminPetros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE’S Warriors might still be with the chance of upstaging Zambia in Ndola and qualify for the African Nations Championships finals but their showing in the second round, first leg at Rufaro on Sunday raised questions about the quality of the Class of 2013. Four years after the Warriors crushed Chipolopolo 3-1 in a Cosafa Cup final at the same venue, there was to be no repeat of that same magic this time as the hosts huffed and puffed all afternoon but could not break a solid Zambian defence.
The 0-0 result left Ian Gorowa’s men needing to force a scoring draw in the reverse fixture at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Saturday or cause a major surprise by becoming the first team to beat Chipolopolo at their new hunting ground in order to make it to the CHAN finals.
There has also been debate with some people rushing to question Gorowa’s capacity to turn the Warriors into a force again.
While the spotlight would naturally fall on the coach given that he picks the team, Sunday’s latest edition of the Battle of the Zambezi provided a reality check on the state of the domestic game and a brutal assessment of it shows that four years after the Warriors’ Cosafa Cup triumph, it is the quality of the local Premiership that has gone down.
That the CHAN tournament is reserved for only those players playing in their national leagues has meant that that Gorowa cannot turn to the likes of Knowledge Musona, Cuthbert Malajila or Khama Billiat in this campaign.
Although it would be the easier route to heap all the blame and the criticism on Gorowa, the reality is that skipper Masimba Mambare and his men, who were also held 1-1 by Mauritius at Rufaro in another CHAN qualifier three weeks ago are a reflection of the current state of the game in the Premiership where no stand-out players have emerged more than half way through the season.
At this stage last year, Denver Mukamba, Mthulisi Maphosa, Innocent Mapuranga and Mambare were on top of their game.
Where Sunday Chidzambwa had an abundance of class in 2009, a comparison with the 2013 side shows a team that on Sunday cried out loud for experienced and talented players who could take control of the game and turn it into the hosts’ favour.
Method Mwanjali was the captain of the Warriors when they hammered Zambia 3-1 in 2009 via a brace from Nyasha Mushekwi and a third goal from Cuthbert Malajila.
By the time they took to the field against Chipolopolo at Rufaro on November 1 in 2009, Mwanjali and a host of teammates had enjoyed a brilliant Premiership season and were not surprisingly snapped up by clubs in South Africa and the Democratic of Congo at the end of that year.
Big goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda kept goal and was one of four CAPS United players who started in that final with the others being Tafadzwa Rusike, Gilbert Mapemba, Mwanjali and Mushekwi.
Mushekwi fronted the line of attack with Dynamos’ Malajila while Chris Samakweri, who charmed many in that tournament with his dribbling skills, operated from the flanks together with Rusike.
The gritty pair of Ashley Rambanapasi and Mthulisi Maphosa were at the hub of the midfield while Asani Nhongo on the left, Daniel Veremu in the centre and Mapemba on the right complemented Mwanjali in a defence that repelled all the Copper Bullets that the Zambians fired at Sibanda’s goal.
Benjamin Marere, Phillip Marufu and Thabani Kamusoko also played a part in that final having come on as second half substitutes for Rusike, Mushekwi and Rambanapasi.
A year before the Warriors won the Cosafa Cup, Dynamos had held the continent spellbound by reaching the Champions League semi-final while Monomotapa followed suit by also reaching the group stage on their first attempt in the same tournament in 2009. Such was the quality in the Premiership that CAPS United also fared well in the Confederation Cup only to be knocked out by Sudanese giants Al Hilal.
But with none of the 16 clubs in the Premiership having produced outstanding players after 18 games into this season, the quality of the Warriors has naturally been compromised and even champions Dynamos had a poor Champions League campaign, failing to go beyond the second round.
That none of the players who featured for the Warriors against Chipolopolo on Sunday has imposed himself so far on the domestic front mirrors the tough times that the national coach faces in trying to select his squad.
The expectation being placed by the top-flight clubs on such players like Gilbert Mushangazhike for Black Rhinos, Washington Pakamisa (Dynamos), Beaven Chikaka (Highlanders) and Evans Gwekwerere to lead their clubs’ attacks, when they are no longer at the peak of their powers, does not serve as an inspiration for a league that needs to provide the platform for a strong national team.
Football is a crazy game, however, and while their class does not match that of Mwanjali and company, Mambare and his troops, who include Hardlife Zvirekwi, Blessing Chimwamuchere, Eric Chipeta, Devon Chafa, Partson Jaure, Peter Moyo, Milton Ncube, Tendai Ndoro, Nelson Maziwisa, Ali Sadiki, Tawanda Muparati and Dominic Chungwa could spring a surprise and win through to the CHAN finals.
But it would also be prudent on the part of the nation not to place huge expectations on a squad that is lightweight in quality and a mirror of the decline in the quality of the Premiership level, which even former Warrior, George Mbwando, condemned as amateurish after watching the showdown between CAPS United and Highlanders at the National Sports Stadium.
Online Reporter