WARRIORS coach Ian Gorowa will build on the success of the locally-based players who won a ticket to the African Nations Championships (Chan) ahead of the African Cup of Nations (Afcon)2015 qualifiers.
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The Warriors stunned Zambia with a 1-0 win playing in front of a hostile crowd. Gorowa said the qualification came as a boost for the Warriors ahead of the more important Afcon qualifiers, which he has been tasked to ensure. “We are all happy that we have qualified. It was always the target as we build a team that we hope will take us to Afcon 2015,” Gorowa said.
“We will continue working with this impressive group of players. They will play the World Cup qualifier against Mozambique as we build on.
I am particularly happy for the players. People doubted that they could make it, but I always had belief in them and they have shown that they can play football. They are a good bunch of players to work with. They work hard and are always focused, so I always knew that they could deliver something special.”
He said playing at the tournament would mean more games and exposure for the players against tough oppositions as they shape up for the Afcon 2015 qualifiers.
Gorowa said after the home nil-all draw, he told the players how important it was for them to qualify for Chan and they responded positively. Together with his lieutenants, Kalisto Pasuwa, Mkhuphali Masuku and Jairos Tapera, Gorowa came up with a number of surprises for Zambia which worked in the Warriors’ favour.
Zimbabwe needed a scoring draw, but went further than that to win the match through a second-half strike by Charles Sibanda. Gorowa set tongues wagging when he named his team a few hours before the match with Milton Ncube tasked at left-back while first-leg star Peter Moyo, captain Masimba Mambare and Dynamos midfielder Tawanda Muparati were all left out of the starting line-up.
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Dynamos goalkeeper George Chigova who was not even on the bench in the first match, won a starting place while Tafadzwa Dube was relegated to the bench.
“I knew that Zambia would try to bombard Tafadzwa with high crosses, so I thought this would not be his kind of game. He played very well in the first leg and I have made him my first choice, but we interfered with Zambia’s game plan.”
Gorowa played FC Platinum striker Donald Ngoma on the wing and explained that he wanted to add power in the team while maintaining a speedy strike force of Nelson Maziwisa and Charles Sibanda.
Maziwisa was instrumental in the solitary goal when he dispossessed Zambian captain and defender Bronson Chama and subsequently picked out Sibanda with a perfectly weighted ball for the later to bury it.
But it was the defensive midfield pair of Devon Chafa and Danny Phiri, who stole the show as they reduced Zambia to half chances. In fact, with Zambia playing full of confidence, dominating possession, it was Zimbabwe who fashioned out the three best chances.
“After we shut them out so well and disturbed their game plan in the first half, I thought to myself that we could win the match. The Zambians were surprised, but I must admit it was a tough match and the home side was such a difficult opponent playing in front of their home crowd. I am glad we have become the first team to beat them in this stadium, we have made a point.”
