Peter Ndlovu on the verge of making history

By Augustine Hwata

Former Warriors kingpin Peter Ndlovu says his charges are bracing for a tough assignment against Angola, but feels any result short of a victory at Rufaro on Sunday isn’t an option in their 2013 Nations Cup final round qualifier.

But problems continue to stalk the Warriors with the new kingpin, Knowledge Musona, still missing from camp while midfield veteran, Tinashe Nengomasha, remains holed up in South Africa.

Tension has also risen significantly between the War­riors technical team and the local journalists covering their preparations after coach Rahman Gumbo placed a blanket ban on his players from taking about Sunday’s match.

There were heated exchanges dur­ing the morning training session as frustrated journalists lost their patience with team man­ager Nyika Chi­famba. Ndlovu, the most successful Warriors skipper, is now the team’s assistant coach while doubling up as the Under-23 head coach.

A veteran of many Warriors battles during his hey­days, Ndlovu has led Zimbabwe to their only two appearances at the African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia in 2004 and the 2006 edition in Egypt.

Now the former Coventry City winger could be on the threshold of making history as the first player from Zimbabwe to help the Warriors qualify to the biggest continental soccer showpiece as player and later as part of the technical team.

The Warriors, Ndlovu believes, should get a healthy advantage at home so that they make their life easier in the reverse fixture in October. Ndlovu is convinced that a positive result from Rufaro on Sunday will help Zimbabwe in their quest to qualify for the 2013 finals in South Africa.

“Having to play at home first we plan to maximise on the advantage and score as many goals as possible. It is here, at Rufaro, where our fans are, that we are most inspired and motivated to succeed. We are looking at strengthening our strike force so that we maximise on the shots at goals and hopefully come away with a healthy lead to take to Angola for the return match.

“All I can say is that we are confident, we will win on Sunday, we are not giving ourselves any other option. If we take care of the home game and carry a win to Angola, it gives us a fighting chance and who knows what will happen from thereon,” he told Cafonline.

An inspirational player during his days as a player, Ndlovu is aware of the potential threat posed by Angola who hosted the 2010 Nations Cup and draw some of their players from the leagues in Europe.

“Well, as you know Angola played in the 2012 Cup of Nations finals although they left the competition at group stage, they had a fine run and gained from that experience of the competition, so we are not expecting this match to be a walk over.

“They have many quality players whom we know about and we will definitely be looking to field players who will rise to the challenge Angola brings.

“Most of their international players feature in the European leagues and because we also have players who are in the same European leagues the match should not have too many surprises when it comes to style of play,” Ndlovu added.

But while Ndlovu could be upbeat on the team’s chances of winning, the absence of three key players — goalkeeper Tapiwa Kapini, Nengomasha and Musona — from camp remains a great cause for concern. Chifamba said he was still expecting Musona to join camp last night.

Another forward, Takesure Chinyama, sat out yester­day’s training as he recovers from an injury but is expected to resume training today.

“For now I am still hoping that Knowledge will join us before the game. I am trying everyday and his number is not going through, so it means he is probably on his way. We have tried to communicate with his club and we sent a telefax,” said Chifamba yesterday.

Musona has been the most consistent forward for the team and his goals have helped Zimbabwe reach the final stage of the qualifiers. Chifamba was also at a loss to explain the possible absence of midfield mainstay Nengomasha.

By last night, Nengomasha was still in South Africa with reports indicating that his club BidVest Wits were saying they have not received any communication from Zifa, requesting the services of the player. Yesterday team doctor Nicholas Munyonga was hopeful that the players who sat out the training session will have recovered by Sunday.

So far only veteran goalkeeper Marlon Jani has been ruled out of the game but he remains in camp as the medical team are treating him. “It’s now confirmed that Marlon got injured and he is out of this game. As for Esrom (Nyandoro) he picked up an injury but we are taking precaution to rest him for today (yester­day). Oscar has a toughness in the muscles, but hopefully he will also be okay,” said Munyonga.

Munyonga said they have received reports that Kap­ini has been injured but the Warriors medical team wanted to have another look at the goalkeeper, who is reported to be in a leg cast for now. But there are no worries for midfielder Archieford Gutu who joined the squad on Wednesday evening. Gutu, who plays for Swedish side Kalmar FC, took part in the morning training session and later in the practice match against Harare City in the afternoon.

The former CAPS FC and Dynamos midfielder feels to be in top form. “Basically, I am enjoying my game in Sweden at the moment and I can only hope for the best. Everything is going well for now and I can say so far so good. I have had two training sessions with the squad,” said Gutu.

The Warriors lost the friendly 0-2. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe have been drawn to face either Mauritius or Comoros in the first round of the 2014 African Nations Championship. According to the draw made in Cairo, Egypt yester­day, the islanders will clash in the preliminary round, first leg at the end of November.

The return leg will be played in mid-December with the winner from the tie playing the Warriors in the first round on June 22-25 in 2013. If Zimbabwe progress from the first round, they will meet either Botswana or Zambia in the second round with the winner going to the finals in South Africa.

The CHAN qualifiers are played on regional basis with the composition of the finalists as two from North Zone, two from West A Zone, three from West B Zone, three from Central Zone, three from Central East and three from South Zone (including hosts South Africa)

Zimbabwe have played at the previous two editions of the tournament in Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan. The Herald