Warriors’ time to shine

As Zimbabweans we should put our heads together and pray that our boys do make us proud by grinding out a positive result in Luanda. Anything that doesn’t guarantee us qualification to the Mzansi Afcon finals in January 2013 will be disastrous.

 

For those two hours from 1500hrs on match day the whole nation will come to a virtual standstill hoping to celebrate after the final whistle.

May the football fathers do us a favour by negotiating with the broadcasting authorities that the match be broadcast live on ZTV for the benefit of all Zimbabweans who will be with the Warriors in mind and soul. Also to be dragged into the equation of favours should be Zesa.

Now that the Mzansi90 is doing its part in sourcing the required funds for the Luanda expedition, the Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters Association is putting everything in place for a substantial number of supporters to go and drum up support for the team, the onus will be on the technical team and their boys to make us happy.

To make the music sweeter, the ethics committee investigating the Asiagate match-fixing scandal has exonerated some of the players who might bring experience and flair to the fold.

Also boosting the nation’s morale is the continued upsurge of the Warriors in the Fifa Coca Cola world rankings from 98 to 89.

The Warriors are carrying a healthy 3-1 first leg win to Angola and hoping God will be smiling at us, definitely the Warriors bandwagon will be rolling into Mzansi come January 2013.

It is high time every football stakeholder in the country, Zifa at large, put all squabbles aside and concentrate on the task at hand.

The Palancas Negras though still smarting from the 1-3 hiding at the hands of the Warriors in the first leg are no mean opponents especially in their own backyard.

They seem to have awakened from their deep slumber and are in no mood to entertain any loss to the Warriors as with it comes failure to qualify.

They must be mooting an idea of recalling their previously ignored seasoned campaigners in the mould of the menacing Flavio Amado and Ze Kalanga.

They know they should win at all cost. Not winning only but winning by a margin of two goals unanswered for them to qualify.

The trick for the Warriors here is to score first, cancel their away goal and maintain the three-goal cushion.

The next thing will be to park our bus in front of our goal, the Chelsea style until the end. Lest we not rule out the usage of the unorthodox, unsportsmanlike dirty tricks to psychologically subdue our boys before the game. If possible a psychologist must be employed here, at least for this match. We want to see our boys rubbing shoulders with the cream de la cream of African football in January.

However, without taking anything away from the team that won the reverse fixture, my school thought is of the suggestion that adjustments are necessary. With Tapuwa Kapini “Campos” out due to injury, experience must be a factor to be considered when choosing a goalkeeper who will do duty in Angola. Any from Energy Murambadoro, Ephraim Mazanira and Ariel Sibanda will do.

I have no problems with the wingbacks where we have Noel Kaseke and Onisimo Bhasera. The most problematic area is the central defence. I suggest without taking anything from Esrom Nyandoro’s commitment , loyalty and efforts towards the Warriors’ cause, he needs to be rested and replaced by a natural hardtackling, no nonsense, experienced and good in aerial tussles defender. Any from Lincoln Zvasiya, Innocent Mapuranga, Carlington Nyadombo can do the job. With the coming in of Tinashe Nengomasha, Oscar Machapa should give way.

The other midfielders’ slots should be reserved for the three of Archieford Gutu, Khama Billiat, Denver Mukamba and Vusa Nyoni.

In attack, the coach is spoilt for choice. He has more than enough arsenal to destroy any defence on their day. He has Takesure Chinyama, Edward Sadomba, Knowledge Musona, Cuthbert Malajila, Kingstone Nkhata and Quincy Antipas at his disposal.

My preferred final 18 would be Energy Murambadoro, Ariel Sibanda, Noel Kaseke, Onisimo Bhasera, Innocent Mapuranga, Lincoln Zvasiya, Carrington Nyadombo, Oscar Machapa, Tinashe Nengomasha, Denver Mukamba, Archieford Gutu, Quincy Antipas, Khama Billiat, Vusa Nyoni, Kingstone Nkhata, Knowledge Musona, akesure Chinyama, Cuthbert Malajila and Edward Sadomba.

My preferred first 11 would be Murambadoro, Kaseke, Bhasera, Zvasiya, Nyadombo, Nengomasha, Gutu, Billiat, Nyoni, Musona and Malajila.

Substitutes to be used ruling out injuries: Mukamba, Nkhata, Antipas, Chinyama and Sadomba.