The ManicaPost
Senior Sports Reporter
FOOTBALL fans in Mutare are confident that the senior men’s national team will eliminate Namibia when the two sides clash in the 2018 African Nations Championships (CHAN) second round return leg qualifier at the national Sports Stadium on Sunday.
If the Warriors win this double legged third round qualifier, they will face in third round the winner between Lesotho and Comoros.
The African Nations Championships tournament will run from January 11 to February 2. Kenya will be hosting the fifth edition of the Championship of Africa Nations. The Warriors slumped to a 0-1 defeat at the hands of the Namibians in the reverse fixture played last Sunday at the Sam Nujoma Stadium in Namibia.
Zimbabwe have drawn a bye in the preliminary round of the 2018 Championship of Africa Nations (CHAN) qualifiers
This week, coach Sunday Chidzambwa called Simon Munawa (Highlanders), Devon Chafa (Caps United) and Denver Mukamba (Dynamos) for the senior side’s must win encounter.
Ronald Chitiyo is back in the Warriors CHAN squad after leaving camp last week to attend to his ill-father.
Other players that have been included are FC Platinum goalkeeper Petros Mhari as well as his teammate Marshall Mudehwe, Innocent Mucheneka (Chicken Inn) and Leeroy Mavhunga (Yadah).
The Warriors resumed training at the Yadah Complex early this week.
Fans who spoke to Post Sport this week expressed confidence that Chidzambwa’s men are capable of outplaying the Namibians by a wider margin.
Peace Nyatsanga said the Warriors had some players heavily affected by a bout of flu just before the away encounter, a development that affected their performance in that match while some were even sidelined.
“I think the team was negatively affected by a bout of flu that affected some players just before the match. Now that they have fully recovered I do not see the Namibians matching us on the field of play,” he said.
Munyaradzi Mapungwana of Yeovil said the Warriors will make use of home advantage to eliminate Namibia.
“We have never really been good when playing away from home judging by the results our national team has posted in their past assignmnts. Now that this match will be played at home and it is the return leg, it gives us hope that we will be able to win it by a margin wider than the 0-1 defeat that we succumbed to away from home,” said Mapungwana.
Paul Sigauke of Dreamhouse said the 1-0 scoreline that the Warriors succumbed to away from home was a blessing in disguise given that it leaves the Warriors with lesser burden when they play at home.
“The good this is that even though we failed to get an away goal, we managed to limit the Namibians in terms of the number of goals they scored. This means that we have lesser burden in just making sure that we overturn their 1-0 lead. I have no doubt that Sunday Chidzambwa is capable of leading the team to glory,” he said.
Goalkeepers:
Petros Mhari, Takabva Mawaya, Herbert Rusawo,
Defenders:
Dennis Dauda, Jimmy Dzingai, Jimmy Tigere, Devine Lunga, Ocean Mushure, Milton Ncube ,Praise Tonha, Peter Muduwa, Jameson Mukombwe
Midfielders:
Marshall Mudehwe, Ronald Chitiyo, Innocent Mucheneka, Simon Munawa, Devon Chafa, Leeroy Mavunga, Liberty Chakoroma, Raphael Manuvire, Talent Chawapiwa, Denver Mukamba
Strikers:
Abbas Amidu, Francesco Zekumbawire, Prince Dube:
