Woeful Warriors draw with Namibia

Woeful Warriors draw with Namibia

• Malajila gives Zimbabwe victory in Botswana

• Matola own goal hands South Africa victory

• Highlanders refuse to release players for national team

• Ndlovu, Nyandoro out of South Africa clash

• Ndlovu gets Warriors recall

• Valinhos spells end of Ndlovu's international career

• Brazilian Valinhos is new Zimbabwe coach

Zimbabwe........0
Namibia...........0

DEPRESSINGLY inept, the Zimbabwe national soccer team has never derived so much satisfaction from a scoreless draw.

Against Namibia in the African Nations Championships at Gwanzura Stadium on Sunday, the Warriors put up one of their worst performances in recent history.

Against better opposition, humiliation would have been guaranteed.

The African Nations Championships were designed for players from the continent’s domestic leagues. The competition has been criticised as a second-rate contest, with little meaning.

Perhaps the Warriors players bought that line of thinking as well. But with the World Cup/African Nations Cup qualifiers on the horizon, this was the stage for the players to show coach Jose Valinhos that they deserve to line-up alongside the mega-rich stars playing in foreign leagues.

From the first to the last whistle, the 8000 fans who turned up witnessed a timid performance from Valinhos’ men, and only a day’s preparation for this clash did not help matters.

Clemence Matawu, coming on as a second half substitute for Farisayi
Nyamunamwendo was Zimbabwe’s best player, by a mile.

Highlanders marksman Cuthbert Malajila looked out of sorts, and was guilty of missing the Warriors’ best chance on the stroke of half time.

The striker fumbled on to the ball deep inside the Namibian box after being set up by Dynamos winger, Edward Sadomba. With the goal at his mercy, Malajila delayed pulling the trigger, and the Namibians scrambled to clear the danger.

Kiglon striker Nyamunamwendo, earning his first cap, made the Warriors’ first shot on target in the 9th minute when his clipped shot drew a save from Namibia’s goalkeeper, Paha.

That early chance did little to help a drab match which soon descended into a ping-ping long-ball contest.

Matawu’s introduction added short-lived impetus for the Warriors, but his well crafted exchanges with Masvingo midfielder Ovidy Karuru were easily read by the Namibians who looked formidable in defence.

On the few occasions the Namibians broke, notoriously with Edward Damaseb, the Warriors defence, marshalled by Highlanders skipper Gilbert Banda, was up to the task.

Warriors coach Valinhos blamed the drab showing on lack of preparation, and he might well have a point.

"We were not given enough time to prepare for this match,” moaned the Brazilian who was taking charge of the Warriors for only their third competitive match under him. “We need time to gel up the new guys with the old ones. But I'm confident we will pull through."

It was the Brazilian's first match at home since he assumed the hot seat earlier this year. He has seen Zimbabwe lose 2-1 to South Africa and win 1-0 against Botswana in friendly matches.

Warriors Squad
Washington Arubi, Gilbert Banda, David Kutyauripo, Zhaimu Jambo, Ovidy Karuru, Justice Majabvi, Elvis Meleka (Admire Dzukamanja),Edward Sadomba, Farisayi Nyamunamwendo (Clemence Matawu), Cuthbert Malajila (Tawanda Nyamandwe)
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