Warriors last Afcon hurdle, Pasuwa speaks

By Fungai Muderere

Ex-Warriors gaffer, Kallisto Pasuwa, the last man to take the success starved Zimbabwe to their last Africa Cup of Nations dance in Gabon with the Willard Katsande’s captained class of 2017, says ahead of the crucial tie against Congo Brazzaville on 24 March, Sunday Chidzambwa’s men should consider to compensate for the heartbreaking so near yet so far experiences that the nation was made to endure before and after the turn of the new millennium.

The country’s flagship football team has had three Afcon appearances (2004, 2006 and 2017) under the guidance of Chidzambwa, Charles and Pasuwa respectively.

With Zimbabwe needing a point to clinch a spot at the Africa Cup of Nations set for mid-year in Egypt, the ex-Dynamos midfielder, who is now in charge of Malawi football champions, Nyasa Big Bullets, in an interview with Sunday Sport at the Football Association of Malawi-owned Mpila Palace, a breathtaking Fifa-funded project, which has left many among the Chicken Inn forty-member delegation wondering on what really happened to the not up to standard Zifa Village, said: “As a nation we missed a lot of chances of qualifying for this biggest African tournament.

It was indeed a painful experience and I believe the current crop of national team players should compensate for those experiences and positively contribute to the history of Zimbabwe,” said the soft spoken lanky coach.

He added: “However, we expect signs of maturity from the players that are going to do duty. They should guard against complacency. They should approach the match with the ideal attitude; take it like a cup final or like the Democratic Republic of Congo away tie where they managed to grind a win. We have the home advantage but that does not mean we are already in it.”

In 1991 Moses Chunga, captain of the Warriors then, watched in disbelief when their African Cup of Nations dream was shattered by Congo Brazzaville. On the calamity, Chunga, fondly known as The Razor Man, recently urged Knowledge Musona and company to right the wrong of 1991.

Zimbabwe needed a win against Congo at the National Sports Stadium to qualify for the 1992 Afcon finals in Senegal and led 2-1 until the 92nd minute when they conceded a last gasp goal, courtesy of a John Sibanda howler that has become “infamous” over the passage of time.

Chidzambwa’s men lead Group G with eight points ahead of their last game at the National Sports Stadium. Their rivals, DR Congo and Liberia contest in their own do or die tie as they have seven and six points respectively and it is in this regard that Pasuwa opines that the Felton Kamambo led executive should make indefatigably efforts of incentivising Musona’s captained crew.

“It all needs a positive all stakeholders approach. This is not all about the coach or the players. We must all pull in the same direction for us to progress. The boys need incentives which I think the Zifa executive must prioritise. Zifa must work hard on that for us to realise our dream.

“I wouldn’t want to talk on team selection., the must or should have been. It’s pleasing to note that some regular national team players having been getting game time at their respective clubs. But one or two players who have not been playing time and again can also add value.

However, their energy levels will need to be greatly monitored,” said the former DeMbare history making mentor who however, could not be drawn into revealing the names of the players he would have loved to see donning Zimbabwe national team jersey.

To avoid the commotion that marred the Warriors’ 1-1 draw with DRC at the same venue, Zifa are already selling advance tickets for the potentially explosive clash with Congo-Brazzaville, who anchor the group on five points. The charges are pegged at $10, $50 and $200 for Rest of Ground, Bay15-18, and VIP respectively. No tickets will be sold at entry points on match day.

This last fixture was expected to pave way for positive reception of the COSAFA cup challenge that Zimbabwe had the privilege to host in May before the powers that be decided otherwise. Sunday News.