Chitembwe Warriors likely to miss Fifa friendly date feels the heat
HARARE City coach Lloyd Chitembwe has never had a full complement of his squad since joining the team six weeks ago.
The former CAPS United gaffer, who replaced Mark Mathe, was mandated to save the municipal club from relegation.
But the task is proving to be too heavy for the former Warriors midfielder who has lost all his last four league games.
The team slid further down the table after losing 1-3 to Triangle at Gibbo on Sunday.
With only six points to show, from a possible 18 since taking charge of the last six games, Chitembwe’s men are increasingly looking vulnerable.
There are only nine games left before the season ends.
Chitembwe, though, believes their destiny is still in their own locker.
He lamented he has always missed key players in crucial matches due to injuries.
His star man, Ishmael Wadi, is on-and-off the treatment table.
Midfielder Moses Muchenje has faced the same problems and so have Learnmore Muyambo, Tatenda Tumba, Collin Mujuru and Hastings Chapusha.
On Sunday, defender Munyaradzi DiroNyenye and speedster Martin Vengesai weren’t available because of injuries.
“I think we played well. Triangle had their moments and we had ours. The home team managed to take their chances and we missed our own opportunities,’’ said Chitembwe.
“I am very disappointed. I thought by now we could have been somewhere up there but it’s just not working but I think it’s still in our hands.
“We just have to make sure we turn around things going forward.
“I think what is making it more difficult for us is the inconsistency which has mainly been caused by injuries.
“Week in, week out we have, at least, two of our key players out injured. This week, we didn’t have Diro-Nyenye (Munyaradzi) and Martin (Vengesayi) both of whom are an integral part of the team.
“Hopefully, the situation will improve going forward.”
The gaffer, who guided CAP United to the league title three years ago, said there was no reason for him to press the panic button.
“There is absolutely no need for us to start worrying about relegation. What we have to do now is just making sure we post positive results in each game we play.” THE Warriors are likely to miss an opportunity to prepare for 2021 AFCON qualifiers scheduled for next month after they failed to secure a friendly during this week’s FIFA international dates.
Zimbabwe are set to play Zambia and Botswana next month as they begin the long journey in the continental qualifiers.
Many African teams are taking advantage of the FIFA calendar to fine- tune their squads ahead of the AFCON assignments.
South Africa will face Mali in the Nelson Mandela Challenge i n Port Elizabeth on Sunday while Cote d’Ivoire date Democratic Republic of Congo in France.
Egypt — who played the Warriors in the opening match at this year’s AFCON finals — had expressed interest to play against Zimbabwe again.
The Pharaohs, however, ended up settling for neighbours Botswana.
Yesterday, ZIFA were still racing against time to secure an opponent to play during this week’s FIFA break.
Zimbabwe are looking to rebuild following the disappointment at this year’s AFCON finals in Egypt which ended with coach Sunday Chidzambwa leaving his post.
The FIFA break could have provided the interim Warriors gaffer Joey Antipas, more time to work with his troops and trying out some combinations.
Yesterday, ZIFA spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela, said they will have a clearer picture by today.
“We are talking to some countries so, by tomorrow, we should be in a better position to comment,” said Gwesela.
But it is highly unlikely the national team will have a fixture considering they should have already secured the release of players two weeks before the FIFA dates as well as airfares.
The Warriors played against Somalia early last month in a World Cup qualifier which they won 3- 2 to qualify for the group stages of the global tournament.
However, the team needed a last- gasp winner from Khama Billiat to secure their place in the group stages.
An international friendly this weekend would also have afforded Antipas the chance to watch Marvelous Nakamba and Tino Kadewere in action.
The duo have been doing well for their clubs in Europe. The Warriors, who are in Group H with AFCON holders Algeria, Zambia and Botswana, will first host the Zebras on November 11 before they make a short trip to Lusaka to play Zambia.
The group qualifiers will then resume next year.