Cosafa: Warriors favourites

30 Jun, 2017 - 00:06 0 Views
Cosafa: Warriors favourites GreenFuel coach Rodwell Dhlakama

The ManicaPost

Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE have emerged the bookmakers’ favourites to progress to the quarter-finals of the 2017 COSAFA Castle Cup as they face a seemingly weaker opponent in the final round of Group B matches  today (Friday).

The Warriors face a Seychelles side that has been on the receiving end in the two matches they have played so far, losing to Mozambique and Madagascar.

The match starts at 5pm at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

On the other hand, the Warriors walloped Mozambique 4-0 before settling for a goalless stalemate against Madagascar in a match that diabolical match officiating calls had a huge say in the final outcome.

However, those interviewed by this newspaper felt that the Warriors cannot afford to be complacent in their last group match against Seychelles.

Castle Lager Premiership side Chapungu gaffer, Rodwell Dhlakama, said Zimbabwe had a very good chance to progress on paper, but they do not have to be complacent

“I think we played well as a team and we just need to keep the form going into the match against Seychelles. We cannot afford to underestimate Seychelles even though we come if as favourites,” said Dhlakama.

James ‘Hwetu’ Lunga

South African-based football pundit, James Lunga Meya, better known as Hwetu to many football players he has managed especially in Mutare, said the match against Madagascar was a reminder of the need to be lethal upfront.

“Yes, we were given a raw deal by the referee, but the match against Madagascar was a reminder of the need to be lethal upfront. We need to create scoring chances and finish them off without necessarily having to depend on referees as much as I also appreciate the need to get penalties whenever we deserve them,” said Meya, who is finding time to watch the COSAFA matches live from the terraces in South Africa.

While their performance at the ongoing COSAFA Castle Cup portray Seychelles as a weaker opponent, recent events in international football competitions bear evidence of a vastly improved national team, going 13 places up the FIFA rankings following their participation in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

In Wednesday’s match against Madagascar, Botswana referee, Joshua Bondo, stands accused of deliberately working against the interests of the Warriors after a shocking performance which overshadowed the match played at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.

Bondo had a nightmarish performance, twice denying the Warriors clear-cut penalties that could have changed the complexion of the game,

Bondo, one of the top referees from Southern Africa at the moment who was also on the panel of match officials at the African Cup of Nations finals in Gabon, just seemed to be getting his calls wrong when it mattered most.

The Zimbabwe bench went up in arms with Bondo in the 83rd minute when substitute Raphael Manuvire was clipped in the box, but the referee ignored the calls.

Three minutes later, Bondo once again drew the ire of Sunday Chidzambwa and his men and had the few spectators in the stadium whistling at him after he waved away the second penalty appeal.

Ovidy Karuru got to the end of a through ball, came face-to-face with the goalkeeper and as the Zimbabwe captain weaved past Jean Randrianasolo, the Madagascar goalkeeper lunged at him, sending the AmaZulu man tumbling.

Madagascar were also not amused by the referee two minutes into time added on when they broke clear just inside the Warriors half and had expected the match official to play the advantage despite Gerald Takwara having brought down Tobisoa Sandratriniaina along the way.

The referee instead halted play and flashed yellow in the face of the FC Platinum midfielder. But that could not be compared with the way he came short, when it mattered most, in the Indian Ocean islanders penalty area.

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