Kadewere set for bigger role

ZIMBABWE national team striker Tino Kadewere is expected to play a more prominent role when the Warriors square up against the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their second World Cup qualifier at Huye Stadium in Butare on Sunday.

The Olympic Lyon forward featured in the last 20 minutes in the nil-all draw against Rwanda in the opening qualifier at the same venue on Wednesday.

Kadewere replaced Prince Dube after 74 minutes and made little impact as the Warriors laboured to get a single point from the contest.

The 27-year-old striker has also not been getting game time at French Ligue 1 side Olympic Lyon where he has 151 minutes in five appearances.

However, Kadewere might start in the Warriors’ next assignment against the Super Eagles as his skill has impressed national team coach Baltemar Brito.

In fact, the gaffer thinks Kadewere will be an integral part of the national team.

“He didn’t play a lot of minutes against Rwanda because we thought he should rest since he had just arrived.

“But he will play against Nigeria,” revealed Brito. The Brazilian coach has been watching a lot Olympic Lyon matches and he says he has been impressed with what he has seen of Kadewere.

The former Le Havre star has had an indifferent start to the 2023 French Ligue 1 following his return from a loan spell at Spanish La Liga side Real Mallorca.

A nagging groin injury has also slowed down his progress in recent seasons.

“I’ve watched his videos and I know what he is capable of doing,” said Brito.

Kadewere can play either as a top man or on the wings and is one of the most experienced players in the current Warriors squad.

“I am happy to be back in action and representing my country after a long time,” Kadewere told Zimpapers Sports.

Kadewere was part of the Warriors squad at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon.

But the Warriors were suspended from international games following a FIFA embargo on the national association.

Their first competitive match after that suspension was Wednesday’s draw against Rwanda.

“The game against Rwanda was a positive looking at the preparations that we had. Almost half of the team arrived a day before the game,” noted Kadewere.

“It’s been almost one and half years without us playing together and this was our first competitive match, so taking a point away from home in a difficult situation was something that was positive.

“Overall, the guys did well, we fought a good fight. It was a game that we could have easily won also. We had some few good chances but they had support from their home crowd.”

Kadewere thinks the point gained against Rwanda will be key as the qualifiers unfold and says his teammates are now focusing on Nigeria. “Nigeria have very good players. Of course they have a few missing like Victor Osimhen but they still have a very good squad.

“We don’t have to think about those that are missing, we need to focus on those who are there and try to put our mind into the game. We need to make sure we take it as a final, we just need to try take the game to them.

“Of course it will not be easy but we will put in 120 per cent effort.”

The Lyon striker thinks Zimbabwe were a “fair” qualifiers draw.

The Warriors are in Group C alongside Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Benin and Lesotho. “I think we have a fair group, it’s good we started with a point away from home. Yes, they are some really tough teams in our group but we are really trying to make sure we make the nation proud.”

Kadewere also paid tribute to the late former Warriors keeper George Chigova.

“To be honest it (Chigova’s death) came as a shocker. Just a few days ago I actually spoke to George and he told me he was actually getting better.

“Receiving this kind of news a few days later was something difficult and the news came in about one and half hours before the game against Rwanda.

“We tried to cope with it and we said to ourselves we wanted to play this game for him and also for coach Rahman Gumbo who passed away last week,” said Kadewere

and could also play a part when Baltemar Brito’s men engage Nigeria in the second game of the marathon at the same venue on Sunday.

But Chirinda could be a victim of circumstances due to the decision by the Premier Soccer League not to observe the FIFA window.

He missed last Sunday’s 2-0 home victory over Triangle when the Warriors began camp, the same weekend that Golden Boot rivals Benhura, Balakasi, Chinyengetere and Hwata were adding to their tallies.

Bulawayo Chiefs coach Johannes Nhumwa thinks his forward has been disadvantaged as the Ninjas are bracing up for the tough battle against Herentals.

“I don’t know what is happening, but this is unfair on him (Chirinda). I am sure if he was there last week when we played Triangle he could also have added to his tally.

“This weekend again he cannot play and obviously his competitors are likely to gain more ground. It will be unfair if he doesn’t win the Golden Boot because he deserved it considering the effort he had put in this year.

“He is also an influential figure in our squad and his absence always comes as a blow to us. We needed him in the remaining games to make sure our safety is guaranteed.

“At this moment when we have about five key players, including Chirinda, unavailable for selection. The others like Danny Phiri, Ben Nyahunzvi and Felix Moyo are nursing injuries,” said Nhumwa.

Fixtures: Tomorrow: Chicken Inn v Yadah (Luveve), FC Platinum v Hwange (Mandava), Black Rhinos v Sheasham (Bata), ZPC Kariba v Simba Bhora (Nyamhunga), Ngezi Platinum Stars v Cranborne Bullets (Baobab), Triangle v CAPS United (Gibbo), Dynamos v GreenFuel (NSS)

Sunday: Manica Diamonds v Highlanders (Gibbo, 1pm), Herentals v Bulawayo Chiefs (NSS, 1pm)

ZIMBABWE Lady Chevrons will this weekend resume their preparations for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier Africa 2023 as they host South African emerging side in six T20 matches starting this Sunday.

The six matches, which are scheduled and equally spread between Harare Sports Club and Takashinga, will act as the final preparations for the national side in their quest to secure two spots at ICC T20 global qualifiers scheduled for next year.

The series comes barely a fortnight after the Lady Chevrons returned form a threeweek training camp in India.

The matches will see the Lady Chevrons playing the South Africa Emerging side at Harare Sports Club on November 19, 20 and 22 before shifting to Takashinga Sports Club for the remaining fixtures scheduled for November 24, 26 and 27. Lady Chevrons coach, Gary Brent revealed that the fivematch series against South Africa Emerging side will present an opportunity for his technical team to work on the tactical side of the team.“We are now moving away from the technical stuff and we are now working on combinations on where people can bat bowl and field and its I more on the tactical side as opposed to the technical side.

“We are looking forward to the series and see where we can fine tune ahead of the qualifiers,” said Brent.

Brent added that the series has come at the right time after his charges had used the three-week training camp in India to work on how to approach spin bowlers.

“We have returned from India where we held a training and it really went well.

“The camp was meant for development and certainly did that as the girls have developed their way of playing spin and it was a huge success on that front.

“We have prepared well and now we go into the South Africa Emerging side series which gives us more preparation time on the e much needed game time,” said the Lady Chevrons.

He remains optimistic of his side securing one of the two spots of the global qualifiers.

“Looking at the qualifiers we are just looking forward to executing our game plan and we have quite a good solid game plan that we have used for a couple of years now and will fine tune for the qualifiers and we remain confident of qualifying,” said Brent.