Warriors hailed for ‘giant killing act’
ZIFA and former national team players have hailed the Warriors’ giant killing act in the Total African Nations Cup qualifier against the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa on Saturday night and called on the nation to throng the National Sports Stadium tomorrow to finish off the Central Africans.
A goal in each half by Ronald Pfumbidzai in the 21st minute and skipper Knowledge Musona in the 69th minute earned a 1-2 victory for the Warriors on the artificial turf Complexe Omnisports de Stade Martyrsfortress to maintain their unbeaten run in Group G and open a three-point gap at the top of the group.
“We are so excited as Zimbabwe to have come out unscathed in the jungles of the Central African nation. We have always believed in these guys, they are soldiers who listen to their commander, who is the Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa, and we are now more than confident that they will finish off the job on Tuesday,” said Zifa vice-president Omega Sibanda.
He called on the nation to come in their numbers to rally the boys, who many believe could be Zimbabwe’s golden generation, as they seek to fortify their fourth appearance at the continental finals.
“Let us make our way to the National Sports Stadium on Tuesday and cheer the guys on. We remain confident that they will pull off another win,” said Sibanda.
Former national team captain Ephraim Chawanda and Joel Luphahla also congratulated the boys.
“Proud moments in our football, congratulations to our coaches and boys for a job well done,” wrote Chawanda on his Facebook wall.
Luphahla also took to Facebook to express his joy at the Warriors’ victory, saying he will be heading to Harare to cheer the team on.
“Well done to the Warriors, what a performance away from home. Such games qualify the team for Afcon. I will be travelling to cheer the boys on,” wrote Luphahla.
The only blemish to the Warriors’ successful hunt was the 74th minute sending off of skipper Musona after he picked up his second yellow card of the night, ruling him out of tomorrow evening’s encounter. FORMER Highlanders secretary-general Andrew Tapela is the new Zifa Southern Region chairman after beating incumbent Musa Mandaza by 20 votes to seven in elections held yesterday.
Also falling by the wayside with Mandaza was Tumediso Mokoena Ndlovu, who also got seven votes, as he sought another mandate to be part of the regional leadership.
Mehluli Thebe of Hwange polled 25 votes, Bulawayo City manager Tizirayi Luphahla got a vote less than Thebe, former ZRP Bulawayo chairman and senior commander in the ZRP Fiso Siziba got 23 votes, the same as Bryton Malandule to complete the six-member team that also has Gaylord Madhunguza, who was retained as vice-chairman uncontested.
“We have a job on our hands that must be done. At the end of the day each team needs to play for something and we will push for that. We will also capacitate our clubs by conducting courses and over and above that we are going to have a strategic plan where we will set certain deliverables so that come 2022, we will look at what we have done not what we should have done or should do,” said Tapela soon after the announcement of results yesterday.
In the Northern Region, incumbent Willard Manyengavana and his deputy Takawira Kweza shrugged off the challenges of retired referee Brighton Mudzamiri and Douglas Chitongo respectively.
There were no elections in the Eastern and Central Regions after incumbents were nominated unchallenged.
Davison Muchena is the Eastern Region boss, while Stanley Chapeta is in charge of the Central Region.