CAPE TOWN — Zimbabwe head coach Ian Gorowa has said South African side Mamelodi Sundowns should not miss the chance of signing midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi.
The gifted Chicken Inn player who featured for the national team in the barren draw against Morocco on Sunday in the opening Group B match of the ongoing 2014 Africa Nations Championship (Chan), has been on Sundowns’ radar for some time.
“He has been on trials with Sundowns and they should not waste any more time, but sign him quickly,” Gorowa said after the game at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
Gorowa explained that having spent years playing in the South African League and coaching there, he thought Mahachi was the kind of player who could match any expectations of many teams.
“He is a talented player with a big heart although his finishing touch needs to improve,” the former Ajax Cape Town assistant coach added.
The player explained that he was waiting to hear from Sundowns: “I cannot predict what will happen, but I am ready for the challenge if they sign me,” he added.
But Gorowa added that even if they didn’t sign Mahachi, he had six players on the current team who could attract the attention of several South African teams.
He said Zimbabwe players do not find it hard to adjust to the South African League and style of play.
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Meanwhile, Uganda put themselves in the driving seat for a place in the Chan knockout phase following a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso in Sunday’s round of Group B openers.
The Cranes made the breakthrough against the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finalists early on, with Yunus Sentamu getting his name on the score sheet after just 15 minutes.
The forward then completed his brace 13 minutes from time to put Milutin Sredojevic’s men clear at the top of the four-team table, with the Burkinabes left at the foot, despite Cyrille Bayala’s 88th minute consolation.
Cranes coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic has said he was happy they had written history by winning their first Chan tie ever.
“This is history that has been made because Uganda did not win a single game at the 2011 edition in Khartoum, Sudan,” Micho said.
The win took Micho’s team to the top of the group after Zimbabwe and Morocco settled for a goalless draw in an earlier match.
“We need to go out and write more history by winning more and more games. Facing Zimbabwe on January 16 will not be that easy, but we are going back to the drawing board to prepare well,” the Serb added.
The former Orlando Pirates and St George (Ethiopia) coach said he was very proud of the 19-year-old striker Junior Yunus Sentamu, who scored the two goals for the team.
“It was Sentamu’s first time on a plane out of Uganda and he has scored two goals. This guy is the future of Ugandan football,” added the coach.
“Micho” said although many people thought he had picked Sentamu too early for international action, he has always had faith in him and was vindicated on the pitch against Burkina Faso.
He, however, stressed Sentamu should not fly in the air because he has scored two goals, but should work harder to benefit himself and the national team.
Speaking about the defensive lapse in the second half, Micho said they have to go back and correct such mistakes.
He praised the maturity of Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, who stood firm against the Burkina Faso players in the midfield and the general team work of the team.
After the Zimbabwe game, the Cranes will face Morocco on January 20 in their last group game at the Cape Town Stadium.
— MTN Football
