We learnt the hard way: Gahadzikwa

By Augustine Hwata
MIDFIELDER Allan Gahadzikwa, creator of the goal that gave Motor Action a lifeline in the African Champions League at the weekend, believes the Mighty Bulls have learnt the hard way and are now ready for new challenges.
Motor Action were left with a mountain to climb in the reverse fixture and their campaign had appeared to have gone off the rails until Gahadzikwa dazzled the Cnaps’ defence and laid the ball for Kuda Musharu’s 76th minute strike in the reverse fixture in Madagascar on Sunday.
Gahadzikwa finished as the leading goalscorer at the Zimbabwe football kings last season with 10 goals but on Sunday he turned provider for newboy Musharu.
Yvan Rajoarihanana scored a late goal that gave Cnaps the lead in Harare. But the Mighty Bulls managed to put behind their chaotic travelling arrangements to score a crucial away goal. The Motor Action delegation returned home in the early hours of yesterday in high spirits just hours before the Warriors sneaked back from a disastrous tour of duty at the African Nations Champions in Sudan.
The Mighty Bulls are expected to resume their preparations tomorrow with focus being Asec Mimosa and Gahadzikwa hopes they will not repeat the same mistakes of losing at home again.
“It was a tough match in Madagascar. The people there really support football because we played before a full stadium.
“Our opponents came strongly at us, especially in the first 10 minutes, but we managed to hold on,” said Gahadzikwa.
He said they also created numerous chances while Cnap also had their moments.
“I think it was towards the last seven or eight minutes of the game that I saw an opening. There were two players and I managed to get an opening between them and we scored,” said Gahadzikwa.
He believes the Mighty Bulls threw all the caution to the wind and created more chances in the reverse fixture in Antananarivo than they did before an expectant home crowd at Rufaro.
Musharu’s strike sent the tie to penalty a shootout where Passmore Bernard, Edward Tembo, Ocean Mushure and Marlon Jani scored. Gahadzikwa had his spot kick saved but veteran goalkeeper Jani emerged the hero when he stopped Cnaps’ fourth kick after the hosts’ third kick had crashed against bar.
“I hope we should never lose at home again if we are to progress. We have to utilise the home advantage at all costs,” said Gahadzikwa.
Gahadzikwa also called on the Mighty Bulls players to be more precise in front of goal as they plunge into the first round.
“I hope we progress,” said Gahadzikwa.
Asec look set to play in the fist round after a 7-0 first leg drubbing over a Mauritius side ASC SNIM. But the Mighty Bulls could draw confidence from Monomotapa who beat the 1998 African Champions at Rufaro.