The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior national men’s team has enough depth in talent, but lack of adequate preparations has always been the nation’s greatest weakness that could once again haunt the Warriors ahead of their third Africa Cup of Nations appearance in Gabon in January next year.
C
alisto Pasuwa’s men who were drawn into a strong pool that includes Africa’s second, third and fourth best teams Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia, will face the Desert Foxes in their opening Group B game in Franciville on January 15.
Fans interviewed by this newspaper on the streets of Mutare concurred that the current crop of players making up the Warriors have what it takes to scale dizzy heights, but the only challenge they face is that of lack of adequate preparations.
Bongai Dube of Zimunya just outside Mutare emphasised on the need to ensure that the Warriors get formidable opposition teams to play friendly matches before they travel to Gabon.
“I think we have a good squad on paper.
“The boys we have in our team have done a great job in showing us that they have what it takes to compete with the best on the continent and even beyond. Remember we are talking about a team that qualified for the finals with a game to spare.
“That speaks volumes about their pedigree.
“However, history has proved us inefficient when it comes to preparing for international competitions.
“On numerous occasions we have acted as if we never knew that we will be going for big matches or tournaments.
“We have become used to assembling resources on the last minute. That will not help us at all.
“My point is that we desperately need to give these boys a chance to prepare and gel as a team.
“They will not be part of the next World Cup qualifiers and I think this is a chance for them to do their best on the international stage. That is the only chance that they have,” said Dube.
Simbarashe Zimunya of Fairbridge Park, said Zimbabwe has always been found wanting when it comes to preparing for major assignments.
“If you fail to prepare you are literally preparing to fail, so they say.
“This is the same thing with our football here.
“It is not that we do not have the right players, but we expect the players to have good combinations when we can hardly give them time to practice together.
“We have come a long way and by now we should be aware that we can only reap what we would have sown. If the boys do not get adequate preparations then we are doomed,” said Zimunya.
Desire Dube of Sakubva’s Old Location echoed Dube’s sentiments, saying the Gabon 2015 tournament is the only chance for the current band of national team players to market their talents, hence the need for them to get adequate preparations.
“It is common knowledge that the Warriors only have the next Africa Cup of Nations as the only international competition that they will be able to partake in.
“Common sense dictates that at their ages, most if not all will not be able to take part in the next World Cup given that they are not going to take part in the current qualifiers of the same tournament.
“Therefore, it needs not be overemphasised that they should get adequate preparations so that they make a lasting impression,” he said.
