By Evans Dakwa and Arthur Muoni (Chief Reporter and Sports Writer)
Zimbabwe’s Warriors suffered their second loss in five days, falling to South Africa in a disappointing match representative of where we are as a nation. The 3-1 loss leaves Zimbabwe rooted at the bottom of their group with just two points from four games.
The loss has sparked outrage among fans, who are frustrated with the team’s performance and rightly so. In the midst of all the chaos, we choose to salute the players for heeding a call to represent their nation, giving it all in the two matches, they are not magicians. Football is a mind game and like a seed, requires the right conditions to flourish, unfortunately those conditions necessary for the team to win were not there, it would have come as a shock to me if we had won the two games.
Thank you Captain Marshal Munetsi for leading your troops in the two games, you played your heart out, never mind the stray passes and uncharacteristic performance against Bafana Bafana. I salute you Godknows Murwira for the fighting spirit, the Warrior in you was evident
Hats off to Geofrey Chitsumba, the occasion was too big for you it was a debut match for you and expectations had to be realistic , never mind about failing to make the grade at Dynamos, you managed to bench their current goalkeeper Martin Mapisa , it’s not your fault that they called you in as after-thought like you colleague Richard Hachiro.
Thank you Lunga Devine, even though you looked tired, the coaches did not have the eye to see that your Sundowns team mates where giving you a run for your money, for being there for your nation, its worthy of gratitude
Walter Musona, even with a flue bout you put your hand up for your country, Gerald Takwara your interceptions when your team was under siege cannot be forgotten. To Munashe Garan’anga, you gifted them their first goal ,but it happens in football, you held your head high.
Andy Rinomhota it is known that you had no match fitness having seen no action in six weeks, just for showing commitment to your nation and coming all the way and putting your all, that’s the mark of a Warrior. Douglas Mapfumo, what a marvel, your runs and presence meant Bafana Bafana defenders were busy until the unfortunate happened.
Tawanda Chirewa, what a player, you remind the nation of Peter Ndlovu, a gem , a rare find , the future of that Warriors attack is definitely in your hands, you silenced doubting Thomas’s who saw the British Brigade as an easy target.
To coach Jairos Tapera and your technical team, we personally don’t blame you, it’s every Coach’s dream to take charge of their national team, they called and you responded. The nation is well aware of your deficiencies and the tag you carry for being a specialist taking teams from Division one and under 20 coach but they called with an offer of the highest honour for a coach, no one begrudges you for heeding it, every patriotic Zimbabwean would do the same, unfortunately they threw you in a crocodile infested river, it was clear you would only survive in the minds of your appointers.
To FIFA, the country was very happy when you lifted the ban and appointed a normalisation committee to normalise the running of Zimbabwean football. They were happy that sanity and proper structures of running football were about to be put in place alas they were very wrong. Your normalisation committee is doing things abnormally, your appointees are making the former executives look like saints.
Did you know they had six months to appoint a coach but failed? Did you know Zimbabwean football problems are a matter of public secret that do not need research but they are busy doing “consultations” for a known problem across the country. Please FIFA if you care about development of Zimbabwean football as shown by the lifting of our suspension, rescue the nation from your abnormal Normalisation Committee.
Fans are investing their emotions and finances supporting the team, your administrators who are above any reproach, are pocketing the thousands in salaries and allowances you are giving them, no loss on their part. In the end, the football loving people of Zimbabwe are left counting their emotional and financial losses whilst your appointees smile all the way to the bank probably asking the aura of invincibility laden question, saka muchaita sei (So what).