eBusiness Weekly
Eddie Chikamhi
When Sunday Chidzambwa was appointed substantive coach for the Zimbabwe National team in December last year, it was easy for many people to doubt his abilities to lead the nation to success.
But exactly 11 months down the line, the veteran coach has taken the criticism — some of it justified and some unjustified — with grace and is standing on the brink of another milestone in his career; and almost all of Zimbabwe believe.
Chidzambwa, who led the nation to their first ever Africa Cup of Nations in 2004, needs a point in the last two games of next year’s AFCON qualifiers to become the first coach to achieve the feat twice with the Warriors.
Despite his strong influence in the dressing room, the coach says credit should be given to the players who have demonstrated an undying spirit even in the face of adversity. Zimbabwe have done well with a new and younger crop of players led by Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat.
Zimbabwe have also managed to lure players born in the diaspora like Tendayi Darikwa of Nottingham Forrest and Wales-based Alec Mudimu who have fitted seamlessly into the system.
The side will be in Liberia this weekend on the back of a fine run in Group G where they are unbeaten in four outings.
The Group also includes continental powerhouses DRC, Congo-Brazzaville and Liberia but so far, with a simple glance on the log standings, the Warriors have been outstanding.
“I think we owe it to the players. Their fighting spirit from Day One has been very fantastic. They have fought for 90 minutes in each and every one of the games that they have played. That has been the secret.
“I also think they have played many games together in the last three or so years and are getting along well as a unit,” said Chidzambwa.
The 66-year-old coach returned to the Warriors dugout in June last year, when he guided the senior team at the COSAFA Castle Cup in Sun City South Africa, where Zimbabwe won a record fifth title in the regional competition.
The Warriors then broke their own record this year, again under Chidzambwa, when they retained the title in Polokwane, South Africa.
It was also a moment of personal glory for the history-making coach as Chidzambwa became the first coach to win four COSAFA Castle Cup titles, having first won the tournament in 2003 before returning to claim it in 2009.
Chidzambwa also has a proud record in the COSAFA tournament where he has never lost a game in that competition.
But the sky can only be the limit for the former Zimbabwe international who has had a brilliant run in the current AFCON qualifiers where Zimbabwe are seeking a fourth appearance the continental stage after qualifying for the 2004, 2006 and 2017 jamborees.
The Warriors made a bright start in the 2019 qualifiers under caretaker coach Norman Mapeza when they thrashed Liberia 3-0 at the National Sports Stadium last year.
But Mapeza only supervised one match before he was replaced by Chidzambwa because of club commitments with FC Platinum, whom he has led to successive league titles in the last two seasons.
Yet Zimbabwe continued to impress in the qualifiers. Chidzambwa in his first game of the qualifiers in charge managed a vital 1-1 win against Congo, away in Brazzaville, in September this year before the Warriors staged a Houdini Act in the back-to-back duels against DRC last month.
Zimbabwe stunned the football fraternity when they escaped with maximum points after beating a star-studded DRC in Kinshasa.
The reverse fixture ended in a 1-1 stalemate at the National Sports, but the point was still enough for the Warriors to take a three-point lead ahead of DRC at the top of the table.
Congo and Liberia have four points each, and mathematically, they still have a say in the qualifiers. Zimbabwe face Liberia at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville at the weekend and then round off the qualifiers with a home match against Congo next year in March.
Chidzambwa’s men only need to avoid defeat on Sunday to seal their place at next year’s AFCON finals to be hosted by Cameroon.
“I think it’s not going to be that easy. Of course we have done well to reach this stage but we are not yet there. There are still some important games to be played and we have to keep focused.
“Liberia are a different team altogether when they are at home. I think you have seen it with all the games they have played in the qualifiers.
“I also understand they have called some foreign professionals who have not played a part in the previous games, just to stress how serious they are with this game.
“So we expect a tough match and we prepare accordingly. As we normally do, we have to fight hard for the 90 minutes to get a good result,” said Chidzambwa.
Zimbabwe welcome skipper Knowledge Musona and Wales-based defender Alec Mudimu who missed the last game against DRC because of suspensions.
But the good news is that Tino Kadewere and Evans Rusike who have been battling injuries are back in the fold while former captain Willard Katsande looks to revive his romance with the Warriors in Liberia, after going back on the decision he took last year to retire from international football.
Zimbabwe Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: George Chigova (Polokwane City), Edmore Sibanda (Witbank Spurs).
Defenders: Alec Mudimu (CEFN Druids), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Bloemfontein Celtic), Teenage Hadebe (Kaizer Chiefs), Kevin Moyo (FC Platinum), Marshall Munetsi (Orlando Pirates).
Midfielders: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Azam), Ovidy Karuru (Amazulu), Talent Chawapihwa (Baroka), Marvelous Nakamba (Club Brugge), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Knowledge Musona (Anderlecht), Rodwell Chinyengetere (FC Platinum).
Strikers: Evans Rusike (SuperSport United), Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Tinotenda Kadewere (Le Havre AC).
