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THE Warriors overcome the setback of going a goal down to get new coach Klaus Dieter-Pagels’ reign off to a positive start following their victory over Botswana in an international friendly soccer match at Rufaro yesterday.
German coach Pagels introduced his brand of football which dwells on a short passing game played with three defenders while deploying five players in midfield.
The Warriors failed to click in the early stages of the game as the defence of leftback Ocean Mushure, rightback Hardlife Zvirekwi and centreback Gilbert Mapemba failed to fuse with their midfielders.
Pagels elected to play Peter Moyo, Matthew Rusike, Archie Gutu, Denver Mukamba, who was wearing the captain’s armband, and Silas Songani as midfielders while Khama Billiat and Knowledge Musona played upfront.
Botswana stunned the small crowd at Rufaro yesterday when Township Rollers forward Tebago Sembowa beat Mushure on the left before crossing to Lemponye Thsirelesto who drilled the ball past Zimbabwe goalkeeper Washington Arubi from close range in the 4th minute.
However, Zimbabwe rallied from behind when Rusike made a strong run on the right before sending a powerful low cross that the visitors’ goalkeeper Noah Maphosa fumbled and Billiat was on hand to tap the ball home for the equaliser after 18 minutes.
Mukamba then sent the Warriors into the lead in the 25th minute when he beat Maphosa with a thunderbolt, struck from outside the box.
Zimbabwe then made several tactical changes at the break when natural centreback Lincoln Zvasiya came in for Mapemba while Nicholas Guyo added some grit in midfield, coming in as a defensive linkman as he earned his first Warriors cap.
Pagels said he was impressed with the overall performance of his charges.
“I was not very much concerned about the result, but with the performance of the team.
“I am also happy with the result, but like I said before, this is the beginning and we are building a new team and that means we have to come in with new players.
“We have this young player Nicholas (Guyo), he played in First Division One last season and has never played for Monomotapa his new team, but all the same he did well today.
“The idea is to train these young players for the future,” said Pagels.
The German coach wants to introduce what he calls “tika-taka” football which is built around a short passing game and building the attack from the goalkeeper in one-two-three touches.
“The type of football that I am introducing is that they should be no long and wide balls from the goalkeeper.
“I noticed that there were no long and wide balls today and I am happy with this. The team played the ball around in midfield and defence.”
Zimbabwe were using the match to prepare for the World Cup qualifier against Egypt next month and Pagels feels there is need for more practise matches before going to Cairo for the crunch match against the Pharaohs.
“Now we have to come up with more training sessions, to play the ball forward and creating more scoring chances. We had only four training sessions with these guys and that was over two days. So, I am really happy with the (overall) performance of the team,” he said.
Botswana coach Stanley Thsosane said he was also rebuilding a new team and had used the nucleus of their Under-23 team.
“I am not making any excuses on the performance of the team.
“These boys are just graduating from the Under-23 team and eight of them were playing for the national team for the first time. They had never worn the Zebras’ T-shirt, unfortunately these boys never had more than two training sessions,” said Thsosane.
Like Pagels, the Zebras’ coach was confident of a bright future.
Teams
Zimbabwe: W. Arubi, O. Mushure, H. Zvirekwi, D. Mukamba (R. Chitiyo 50th minute), K. Billiat (S. Sithole 75th min) G. Mapemba (L. Zvasiya 46th min), P. Moyo (N. Guyo 46th min), M. Rusike (A. Amidu 46th min), S. Songani (M. Mambare 75th min),
Botswana: N. Maphosa (Modiri 75th min) M. Thuma, P. Lekgari, T. Sembowa (Motseope 70th) M. Sembowa, N. Letselathlebe (O. Ncenga 46th min) O. Natho, M. Ohliwe, L. Tshireletso (G. Moyana 46th min),A. Sembowa (L. Galenamothlale 75th min), J. Mugorosi.
Online Reporter