Zimbabwe in narrow win over Namibia

Zimbabwe in narrow win over Namibia

THE Warriors' Gilbert Mushangazhike in Action Wednesday night. He scored the opener

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By Sports Reporter

Zimbabwe.....3
Namibia........2

ZIMBABWE won the battle, Namibia were saluted for their bravery when the Warriors met the Brave Warriors in a friendly match at Rufaro Stadium on Wednesday night.

Former Dynamos strike ace Evans Gwekwerere scored his first
competitive goal for the Warriors, adding to Gilbert Mushangazhike's opener.

Victor Helu kept Zimbabwe's lead in check at half time with Namibia's first goal.

Clement Matawu extended Zimbabwe's lead early on in the second half, but Namibia battled back, and Costa Khaiseb got their second goal.

The visitors threatened and teased, but for all their huffing and puffing, they failed to draw level -- and not because Zimbabwe were organised.

Charles Mhlauri's midfield pair of Honour Gombami, Matawu and substitute Edzai Kasinauyo struggled to string together any passes and stamp authority on a game that Nambia could have so easily won, with a little vision.

Former Warriors skipper Peter Ndlovu came on as a substitute to a standing ovation. His every touch and turn was greeted with wild cheers from the home fans, and he did not disappooint.

Ndlovu's slick passing movements with Gwekwerere was a joy to watch.

Charles Mhlauri used this match to look at some players in preparation for the Warriors' bid to beat Morocco and Malawi to a place at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations in Ghana. Zimbabwe have already lost away to Malawi 1-0, and now need to win all their remaining fixtures to guarantee progress.

That looks an uphill task, with Morocco showing their form in a 6-0 demolition job on Gabon, also Wednesday night.

But there were positives for Mhlauri, with new boy Onesimo Bhasera stating his case on the left with a solid performance.

But alarm bells would be ringing in Mhlauri's head after some lapses in concentration by stand-in skipper Zvenyika Makonese and his defence partner, James Matola.
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