Warriors win cosafa cup four times

warriors

ZIMBABWE’S Warriors sent the nation into delirium yesterday and carved their name into the history books

, when they became the first country to win the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup four times, following an emphatic 3-1 victory over bitter rivals Zambia before a capacity crowd at Rufaro.

The Warriors, backed by the biggest crowd seen at Rufaro in recent years that included President Mugabe, turned on the power in the first half with a spirited display and duly delivered as they scored three times in that period to overpower the Zambians 3-1.

Speaking after presenting prizes to outstanding players and officials, President Mugabe described the victory as an overwhelming one that should spur the nation to unite for positive results.

"We are delighted to have won the Cosafa Senior Men’s Challenge trophy and the fact of that victory means that we are back to the top.

"But we hope that this means the society is united in every way . . . politically, economically and socially for positive results in the country," he said.

President Mugabe said if the country continued to be united, the positive results would reflect in all sectors of the country.

"We are overwhelmed with joy and I want to say congratulations to Zifa and the organisers of the tournament.

"I used to play my game in my office watching television and scoring, but today I was here and let the Warriors do the scoring," he said.

On a sun-drenched afternoon in the capital, coach Sunday Chidzambwa and his gallant Warriors turned into the toast of the nation with a hearty fightback — after they had fallen behind — to send the fans into ecstasy as they buried a Zambian side that fought hard and long.

The Zambians have had the edge over the Zimbabweans, in head-to-head contests, since that initial showdown and there was a feeling among a good number of Warriors’ fans that this could all turn into a frustrating afternoon with Chipolopolo emerging triumphant.

That the Zambians had not conceded a goal leading to the final and had played impressively while the Warriors appeared to grind out results — including a penalty shootout win over South Africa in the semi-finals — only added to the pessimism among a good number of local fans.

However, the majority of the fans appeared to believe that their team could rise to the occasion and there was a wave of expectation around Harare yesterday morning, with Zimbabwean flags being flown from cars and buses, giving the capital a gold and green ambiance.

By midday, thousands of local fans were already at Rufaro, singing and dancing, as the countdown to the big game continued and, by the time the match eventually got underway, the ceremonial home of domestic football was holding its biggest crowd in recent years.

Although the odd Dynamos flag flew from the Vietnam end while a CAPS United flag could be seen on the northern stand, yesterday was not a day about club affiliations and the sheer number of Zimbabwean flags and colours inside the stadium meant that the club colours became insignificant.

This was a united nation facing its date with destiny and by 2:30pm, the northern and southern bays had been filled to capacity and police were forced to clear the pathways and ordered some of the fans to go and sit in the Vietnam Stand.

A huge roar greeted the Zimbabwean players when they emerged out of the tunnel for their warm-up session and it was clear that the big crowd was not in the mood to accept second best and they were ready to push their beloved Warriors to greatness.

A typical Zambezi Derby, this contest was a quality and fiery battle between two nations whose rivalry dates back to the time Zimbabwe was re-admitted into the international football family, at independence in 1980, and the Zambians were one of the first teams to play the Warriors.

And their heroes duly responded.

Having fallen behind to a superb goal by Zambia’s Henry Banda, after some brilliant movement and co-ordination by the visitors, the Warriors did not allow that setback to dampen their date with destiny and staged a great comeback that delighted their supporters.

Big CAPS United striker Nyasha Mushekwi —– voted the outstanding player yesterday on his return to the team after being sidelined by injury from the first game against Mauritius — started the hearty fightback when he poked home the equaliser.

The country’s leading goalscorer showed great strength and awareness to push himself between the defender and the goalkeeper and get the opportunity that he needed to give his country reason to believe.

In a flash, he had taken control of the ball and, given that he is a striker in form, he squeezed the effort with his right foot and Zimbabwe were back on level terms.

Rufaro rose to salute the goal and the roar that came out of the stadium could have produced a sound loud enough to be measured on the Ritcher scale.

It was just the breakthrough the Warriors needed to find their confidence, having been given a tough time by the technical brilliance and swift movement of the Zambians, and Mushekwi soon pushed Zimbabwe into the lead.

Chidzambwa has built his adventurous side on a platform of width, with the flanks playing a major role in the attacks, and that is why Asani Nhongo and the impressive Gilbert Mapemba have featured prominently in this campaign.

The second goal was created down the right flank, where Mapemba was again impressive, and when the ball was swung into the crowded box, Mushekwi connected it with a firm header and it arrowed its way into the corner. The Zambian goalkeeper simply had no chance.

Then, in added time in the first half, the Zimbabweans created a chance for Cuthbert Malajila and the hard-running forward, who won the Golden Boot for the tournament with four goals, buried it with aplomb.

Suddenly the tide had shifted completely and, at 3-1 in the lead at the break, one can bet his house that a team that is coached by Chidzambwa is unlikely to lose that match given his emphasis on defensive discipline.

With skipper Method Mwanjali in great form at the heart of the defence and his trusted centreback Daniel Vheremu, once again producing a superb show, the Warriors duly closed shop and, try as they did, the Zambians couldn’t find a way through.

On the occasions that the visitors got the opening, having changed their tactics to push more men forward, they found the stumbling block of big goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda, who was rewarded for his brilliance by being voted Goalkeeper of the Tournament.

Quite a turnaround for the big man given that he started the tournament as a substitute but was given his chance when Washington Arubi had a nightmare in the 2-2 draw against Lesotho that almost ended the Warriors’ interest in the competition at the preliminary round phase.

Sibanda’s two saves, during the dramatic penalty shootout win over Bafana Bafana, stood out and yesterday he had another good show as the last line of his country’s defence.

With time ticking away, the Zambians became frustrated and there were a number of good chances for the Warriors, to increase their lead, towards the end and Malajila had the ball in the net only to be adjudged to have pushed his marker before heading home.

But no one cried foul because the Warriors, at that stage, had done enough to be crowned champions and find their way into the history books as the first country to win the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup four times. The Zambians, Angola and South Africa have won the tournament three times.

When the referee blew to end this contest, it was now party time for the Warriors and their fans and another huge roar came from the stands when Mwanjali was handed the big trophy by President Mugabe and Cosafa president Suketu Patel.

Patel paid tribute to the Zimbabweans for organising a tournament that he described as the best Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup tourney that he has seen.

"It’s the best Cosafa Cup that I have seen and you have to pay tribute to the Zimbabweans who made it such a success and worked very hard," said Patel.

"We have just seen the good product that comes when an entire nation works hard, hand in hand, to make sure that everything is a success and we thank everyone who was involved because this was a great show.

"Football needs supporters and the fans kept the tournament alive by coming to the matches and we have to tell them that we appreciate all that they put into this tournament.

"It was a different tournament, in the manner that it was sponsored, but it showed us the other side that if you can have a united country then it’s possible to have a successful Cosafa Cup tournament there."

With the second half a mere formality, the crowd including Government ministers Ignatius Chombo, Webster Shamu, Saviour Kasukuwere and Walter Mzembi joined the crowd in cheering the Warriors as they went through their battle.