Pasuwa flags Mbwando as Warriors beat Zambia in friendly
By Ishemunyoro Chingwere
Zimbabwe. . . . (0) 1
Zambia. . . . . . . 0
Warriors coach Kallisto Pasuwa suggested that George Mbwando missed the point when he rushed to the media with his offer to help the Warriors prepare for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking after a local ensemble of the Warriors dismissed Zambia in a friendly international at the National Sports Stadium yesterday, Pasuwa said he is open to advice “if it comes through the proper channels.”
Teenage Hadebe’s second half goal gave the hosts victory.
Mbwando torched a storm when he poured his heart out to our sister paper The Herald saying he wanted to help the Warriors’ Afcon 2017 cause by spying on opposition players plying their trade in Europe.
He suggested that his efforts were hitting a snag as he was failing to reach Pasuwa. That seems not to have gone down well with Pasuwa.
“If anybody wants to help please direct them to me, they are very welcome,” said the Warriors coach.
“Whether it’s fellow coaches or ordinary fans I am ready to listen, but surely I can’t get advice from fellow coaches through the media.
“It’s not true to say that I don’t want help, if anything I am what I am today because of the help that I have received from fellow coaches and several other people. Even during my time at Dynamos I would always get advice from others and this really helped me a lot.”
Pasuwa used yesterday’s friendly to run the ruler on locally based players as preparations for the 2017 Afcon finals, where the Warriors are in a group of death together with African football giants Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia, began in earnest.
The national team gaffer revealed that he has already started spying on Zimbabwe’s Afcon rivals.
“We watch their players play in Europe but that is not enough, the most important thing is to watch them playing for their national teams and get to understand the systems they use which are usually different from the way they do at their clubs.
“My hope is we will be able to send someone from the technical team to watch Senegal when they play South Africa next weekend,” said Pasuwa.
Pasuwa was also happy with what he saw from his men as they dominated the match before a paltry but appreciative crowd.
Triangle winger Malvern Gaki was the toast of the afternoon with his ball artistry that kept the Zambians on the back foot.
The Caps United duo of captain of the day Hardlife Zvirekwi and Ronald Pfumbidzai also gave a good account of themselves with their brilliant overlapping runs which saw the Warriors engineering most of their attacks from the flanks.
It was no coincidence that the goal that made the difference came from the flanks with Hadebe heading home a Zvirekwi free kick five minutes before the hour mark.
The central defence of goal scorer Hadebe and Lawrence Mhlanga also did well covering for goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva who had very little to do before making way for Bernard Donovan in the 76th minute.
“Everybody who played today did well and has a chance of making the final Afcon squad, but we will sit down with the technical team and assess the match before making decisions,” said Pasuwa.
Teams
Zimbabwe: Tatenda Mukuruva (Bernard Donovan 76th), Hardlife Zvirekwi, Leornard Tsipa (Rodrick Mutuma 54th), Lawrence Mhlanga, Farai Madhanhanga, Malvern Gaki (Gift Mbweti 60th), Pritchard Mpelele (Talent Chawapiwa 70th), Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Teenage Hadebe, William Manondo (Ronald Chitiyo 46th)
Zambia: Allan Chibwe, Misheck Chaila (Richard Kasonde 68th), Donoshan Malama, Lawrence Chungu (Fuckson Kapumbu 48th), Georger Chilufya, Ziyo Tembo, Kondwani Mtonga, Ronald Kampamba (Patson Daka 59th), Isaac Chansa (Rodrick Kabwe 50th), Charles Zulu (Kelvin Mubanga 77th), Fwayo Tembo. The Sunday Mail
