Young Warriors scramble to draw

By Eddie Chikamhi

Zimbabwe Under-23 . . . . . . . . . (0) 1
South Africa Under-23 . . . . . . (0) 1

YOUNG Warriors coach Callisto Pasuwa described his charges show as timid and said they failed to execute their game plan after they put up a below par performance to scramble a draw against South Africa in a CAF Under-23 Championship final qualifier, first leg tie at Rufaro yesterday.

The Young Warriors needed an 83rd minute penalty conversion from Walter Musona to salvage a draw after Keegan Dolly had given the visitors a deserved lead midway through the second half.

Pasuwa reckoned that his charges were timid and too slow as they were always second to the ball as they lacked the energy and drive to fight for every ball.

South Africa Under-23s, to their credit, appeared more comfortable and controlled the game for longer periods.

“Our intention was to win and it’s very unfortunate we drew,” said Pasuwa.

“We were not getting the ball on time. If we lose it on the transition we were taking too long to have the ball back. Then we took time again to attack the opposition’s third.”

South Africa took control early with outstanding midfielder Dolly giving the Zimbabwe players a torrid time on the afternoon. Full-back Siyabonga Zulu also enjoyed runs on the left flank but it was Black Leopards midfielder Siphelele Ntshangase who could have given the visitors the lead following an inter-change between the two players 33 minutes into the game.

Zimbabwe had to thank goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva who made a stunning save to deny Ntshangase from close range. The Young Warriors just could not get their game flowing and they suffered a huge set-back when chief striker Thomas Chideu was stretchered off injured in the 38th minute.

After surviving several close shaves in the first half, Zimbabwe came back fighting in the second half but they just could not breach the opponents.

Zimbabwe had two new faces with Kuda Mahachi and Walter Mutasa coming for this match but they all found the going tough.

South Africa Under-23 continued with their neat build-ups and were rewarded in the 66th minute when Dolly ran into position and beat goalkeeper Mukuruva at the near post after Zimbabwe had lost possession in their own half.

The Young Warriors had a good chance to claw back into the game barely three minutes later when Blessing Moyo sent in a low cross which evaded everyone in the box to find Carlos Rusere at the back post but the visitors reacted quickly to block the ball out for corner.

Zimbabwe were handed a huge lifeline when Zambian referee Stanley Hachiwa pointed to the spot following a handball by the visitors’ skipper Ishmael Mngonyama under pressure inside the box. Musona then sent the keeper Ricardo Goss the wrong way and hand Zimbabwe a fighting chance in the return leg on August 2.

The tie will determine which team goes through to join seven others at the finals of the championships to be hosted by Senegal in December.

The top three teams at the CAF Under-23 Championship tournament will get automatic tickets to represent the continent at next year’s Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil.

But Zimbabwe would need to move mountains in the return match as South Africa now carry an upper hand because of the away goal they scored. Pasuwa however, remains positive.

“It’s football. Remember we are going to South Africa. It’s not like we are going to Cameroon. South Africa is more like our second home. It’s still game on. They have scored here and we can go there and score as well and even pull out a win there,” said Pasuwa.

South Africa Under-23 coach Owen Da Gama was impressed by his charges and believed they could have won the match.

Da Gama said Zimbabwe played beyond their own expectations.

“We assembled two weeks ago. I thought these South Africa boys were unbelievable. They played good football, they played attractive football. I mean, at one stage we put together 27 passes and for me that is good football.

“We scored a legitimate clean ball, nobody could discount that but at the end of the day I believe it was value for money for the supporters. It was a good game, we showed them we can play good football.”

Da Gama said none of the Zimbabwean players was a threat to them.

He said his charges did well to mark Zimbabwe’s trump cards who included Mamelodi Sundowns man Mahachi and Mutasa out of the game and their substitution in the second half was a sign that the visitors had frustrated them.

“Nobody (gave us problems). Mahachi zero, they took him out. The captain (Mutasa), minus one, they took him out. So for me these young boys (South Africa), some of them are club-less, coming from off-season and playing against a team that has most of the players in the middle of the season I think all credit should go to them,” said Da Gama.

Teams:

Zimbabwe Under-23: T Mukuruva, B Moyo, P Mpelele, L. Mhlanga, T. Hadebe, G. Takwara, N Masuku, W Mutasa (K Mutizwa, 71st minute), W Musona, T Chideu (M Sibanda, 38th minute), K Mahachi (C Rusere, 60th minute)

South Africa Under-23: R Goss, I Mngonyama, T Rikhotso, Z Macheke, A Mobara, S Zulu, A Konqobe M Modisha, 77th minute), S Ntshangase, S Khambule (D Zuma, 58th minute), K Dolly, M Maphosa. The Herald