Anne Nduku new ZLGU president
THERE is a lot to fight for tonight when Zimbabwe and Zambia clash in a 2021 AFCON qualifier at the National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.
Kick off is 6pm.
The Warriors stirred resentment from the fans back home following their lifeless performance against Botswana last week.
Chipololpolo found no one at the airport, including officials from the Football Association of Zambia, to welcome them back home from the 0- 5 drubbing in Algeria.
Zambia President, Edgar Lungu, was even critical when he commented on the defeat, while urging the Copper Bullets to find a way to appease the nation.
Zimbabwe caretaker coach, Joey Antipas, and defender Alec Mudimu yesterday sounded positive when they responded to questions from the media at Zambia’s Football House in Lusaka.
“Morale is very high, we regrouped quite quickly ( from the 0- 0 draw with Botswana) and we are keeping high spirits, faith and belief in each other,’’ said Mudimu.
“It’s a game we are not going to shy away from, in fact, we are more than excited to get going and play.
“It’s something that players want to prove to the coaches, and not only to themselves, that we are more than capable to step up to the ladder and produce in such big occasions.’’
Zimbabwe are third in the Group H standings behind leaders Algeria, who were expected to play Botswana in Gaborone last night.
“It’s very disappointing when you dominate the game for so long, with so much possession, only to draw,’’ said Mudimu.
“Actually, it feels like a loss, sometimes but we have dealt with it.
“It has brought more togetherness and camaraderie among the players. We know what we need to do in our game on Tuesday.
“We are more than prepared to bounce back and rectify the situation. The players are confident.”
Caretaker coach Antipas has many options to turn to in a side that has triedand- tested players like Khama Billiat,
THE Zimbabwe netball Under-20 national team coach, Ropafadzo Mutsauki, says an opportunity to play the Spar Baby Proteas in Cape Town will give the team a perfect opportunity to prepare for future assignments.
The Zimbabwe Under-20 team have been invited to play as curtain-raisers during the three-Test Challenge Netball Series between the Proteas of South Africa and the England Roses
The matches will be played from November 29 to December 1.
South Africa have indicated they will cater for Zimbabwe’s team transport, to the neighbouring country, as well as their stay in the Mother City.
Zimbabwe are excited to showcase their talent at such a big stage which features England, who are ranked third in the world, and South Africa, who are fifth.
Significantly, the Challenge Series will be in the city that will host the 2023 Netball World Cup.
Yesterday, Mutsauki, who is also the national
Marvelous Nakamba, Kuda Mahachi, Teenage Hadebe, Marshal Munetsi and Knox Mutizwa.
But the duels between these Southern African nations have always been difficult to predict. team assistant coach, says he will assemble a competitive team.
“South Africa acknowledges that we are one of the best teams and expects a competitive game from us. So, we will also use the opportunity,’’ he said.
“We have an advantage in that we have a team which played at the Region 5 Games last year and got bronze.
“They are still eligible because when we assembled that team we were looking at the World Cup qualifiers.
“We have a long list which we have already forwarded to the association. We will make a few additions, and subtractions, since one or two players might be unavailable.’’ The coach added the team only requires a short time to prepare since the bulk of the players were active at their clubs.
“We are waiting to get dates when the team is expected to assemble. A few players, who are at school, will need some game time otherwise three quarters of the players are active at their clubs,’’ he said.
“The players that will excel during camp will make the grade to travel to South Africa.’’
The last time the two nations faced off in an AFCON campaign in 1993, both legs ended in stalemates.
The only other time the two teams were paired in the same group for AFCON qualification was in 1981 with Zambia beating
THE next three weeks should provide the domestic Premiership with a script crafted in heaven as both the title race, and the battle for survival, are likely to push to the last day of the season.
CAPS United blew an opportunity to stretch their lead at the summit of the table to four points after giving way a two- goal advantage against plucky Yadah Stars on Sunday.
The Green Machine failed to capitalise on the slip- up by title rivals FC Platinum and Chicken Inn, who had dropped points the previous day.
CAPS United coach, Darlington Dodo, refused to let his team judged by Sunday’s performance where substitute goalkeeper, Prosper Chigumba, had a nightmarish show.
“The character is there. We were dominant, we approached this game the way we wanted to approach it and we took a 2- 0 lead and if you surrender such a lead what else do you want?
“There were some individuals who did not do their duties correctly and it was unfortunate.
“But, we will correct that and we will come right.
“And, in terms of character, we are okay,
Zimbabwe 1- 0 and 2- 0 over the two legs in Harare and Lusaka.
Zambia are in a difficult spot this time. In a desperate attempt to get their campaign back on track. Interim coach Aggrey Chiyangi has called on the FC if we were a weak team, we should have collapsed.
“But, our second- half performance showed we were more dangerous, in terms of going forward and defensively we had improved,” said Dodo.
The coach, though, will need to question his decision to pull out Ronald Chitiyo, given his X- factor, and leave rookie forward, Kelvin Ndebele, in that pressure- cooker of a contest.
Yadah could have stolen all points, had a late effort not been ruled out for offside, but the referee’s decision to wave play- on, after Phineas Bhamusi was brought down in the penalty box, was diabolical.
CAPS United will now take on bitter rivals Dynamos next before travelling to Ngezi Platinum for the penultimate match of the season.
They will then host title rivals FC Platinum in a game which could decide the destiny of this league.
Makepekepe lead the race with 55 points.
They have a two- point cushion over the chasing pack, with Chicken Inn and FC Platinum tied on 53 points.
ZPC Kariba officially fell away from the championship race after a 2- 2 home draw against Harare City.
They have 46 points in the bag, nine
Red Bull Salzburg duo of Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka.
The two were on duty with their youth team at the Under- 23 version of AFCON finals in Egypt.
“We are expecting fireworks from the Zambians and we have to be up for it,” said Antipas.
“We respect the Zambian national team; we respect the quality that they have and we know it’s not going to be easy.
“There is no way that it’s going to be a walk in the park. Whenever Zambia and Zimbabwe play, it’s always closely contested so what we know is that we have come here for a battle. It’s got the ingredients of a thriller.
“We are also coming from 0- 0 at home, we are also licking some wounds because we should have won that game, to be honest, but unfortunately, we did not.
“We are hoping to come up with a positive performance which will bring us a positive result.”
Antipas also defended the inclusion of skipper Knowledge Musona, who has come under severe criticism for his lack of game time.
Musona has struggled since he started facing problems nailing a place at his Belgian club Anderlecht.
“He could not be playing regularly for the first team at RSC Anderlecht but he is training regularly and he is playing games regularly for the reserve side.
“Although he has been criticised, even us as coaches have been criticised for starting him because of lack of game time, but we know that he can deliver and he retains the captaincy of the team.
“It’s just a matter of time before he delivers for us,” said Antipas.
The AFCON qualifiers will take a long break after the match tonight and then return in August/ September next year when Zimbabwe engage in back- toback clashes with the high- riding Desert Foxes.
The Warriors will then travel to Botswana in October before wrapping up the campaign at home against Chipolopolo the following month.
The top two teams, at the end of the campaign, will qualify for the 2021 AFCON finals in Cameroon. off the pace with three games remaining.
Alarm bells have started ringing louder for newboys Mushowani, Yadah and Hwange as their fight for survival appears to be imploding.
Almost the whole bottom half is still involved in relegation battles.
Herentals ( 35 points) and TelOne ( 36 points) got critical wins.
Harare City coach, Lloyd Chitembwe, was a relieved man after his side came from the dead to snatch a point against hosts ZPC Kariba at Nyamhunga.
Kuda Musharu and Ishmael Wadi secured the vital point for the Sunshine Boys late in the second half.
Tawanda Nyamandwe had given the hosts a fifth minute lead before Jimmy Gwara doubled the scores just before the breather.
“It’s difficult to win here in Kariba but my boys showed resilience, a point is better,’’ said Chitembwe.
“It will help us in easing our relegation worries, it’s back to the drawing board.’’
Harare City remained unchanged on 12th place on the log standings with 37 points.
But a two- point cushion from the relegation zone may not be good enough going into the last three games of the season.
ANNE NDUKU was elected Zimbabwe Ladies Golf Union president at an annual meeting at Royal Harare on Saturday.
She replaces Caroline Mtsambiwa, who had held the post for three years, and did not seek re- election after her term of office lapsed.
The new executive has Margaret Vera, as the vice president, while Rose Gaisford comes in as the chief executive.
“I am very grateful to the women golfers who have chosen me to head the association and I look forward to a successful term of office,’’ she said.
“I thank the outgoing president, Mtsambiwa, and wish her well.
“Our target is to see more junior golfers graduating and we urge the supporters and sponsors to continue working with us.
“We also look forward to retaining all the trophies that we won on the international scene and have more women joining the sport.
“There is a perspective that golf is an elite sport but we need to remove that and see more players coming on board.”
Mtsambiwa did not seek re- election after serving her two- year term and said she was happy with her achievements.
“I am happy to be leaving the post and I wish the incoming executive all the best,’’ she said.
Under the leadership of Mtsambiwa, Zimbabwe women’s golf enjoyed successful period.
They posted good results in high- profile competitions such as the All- Africa Challenge Trophy and the A& B Triangular Ladies golf tournament.
Her tenure also coincided with the rise of junior players such as Danielle Bekker, Margret Nyamukondiwa and Emily Jones.