Gorowa building his empire

Sport
COACH Ian Gorowa maintained the Warriors’ impressive away record after beating neighbours South Africa 2-1 in an international friendly at Orlando Stadium, Jo’burg, on Tuesday night

COACH Ian Gorowa maintained the Warriors’ impressive away record after beating neighbours South Africa 2-1 in an international friendly at Orlando Stadium, Jo’burg, on Tuesday night to reclaim the bragging rights of the battle of neighbours.

BRIAN NKIWANE IN JOHANNESBURG Gorowa and his trusted assistants, Jairos Tapera, Mkhuphali Masuku, Richard Tswatswa and Kalisto Pasuwa surprised many when they qualified for the Africa Championships to be staged in South Africa next year January.

The contingent of locally-based players failed to utilise home advantage when they hosted Chipolopolo, but performed a “Houdini act” in the reverse fixture in Zambia where they beat them 1-0 through a Charles Sibanda strike.

Gorowa became the first coach to hand Zambia a home defeat at their new hunting ground, Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

Warriors striker Knowledge Musona opened the goalscoring in the 50th minute after getting to the end of a Denver Mukamba corner-kick before Cuthbert Malajila made it two after a cross from hardworking Kingston Nkhatha in the 93rd minute.

They then went to sleep allowing Bafana Bafana to pull one back. Bernard Parker beat Washington Arubi in goals for the Warriors with a long-range shot into the far corner.

The friendly match saw a number of senior Warriors players making a dramatic return to the team after having been overlooked by Dieter-Klaus Pagels — succeeded by Gorowa some weeks ago.

Speaking after the match, Gorowa said: “I am very much impressed by the way our local players blended with their South African counterparts. “Taking a look at the limited time that we had in camp, they did extremely well.

“I knew very well that players like Musona and Khama Billiat are still to hit their form, but I had to talk to them first before the match to build their confidence.

“It has been a tricky situation for Musona as a goal drought had been haunting him at his club.

“I told him that he had to play his normal game, not putting himself under any pressure.

“He did just that and he managed to get rid of the bad luck that has been haunting him.

“I am happy for him and Khama as well — he managed to win the man-of-the-match award worth R10 000.” he added.

Onisimo Bhaera, Carrington Nyadombo and Felix Chindungwe made a comeback into the team.

Assistant team manager Patrick Mutesva commended South African Football Association for the manner they handled logistical arrangements of the friendly match.

“Everything had been flowing well. We had no complaints at all,” Mutesva said.