Draw sets Warriors as Group Three favourites

Draw sets Warriors as Group Three favourites

• 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

By Nkanyiso Moyo

ZIMBABWE were perfectly poised to seize control of Group 3 in the race for a place in the 2010 World Cup after pulling off a 0-0 draw away to Guinea on Sunday.

The away trip to Conakry was always going to be the Warriors’ biggest hurdle, and Jose Valinhos was delighted to come out unscathed.

Now Zimbabwe must turn on the style when they host Namibia on Sunday before an away trip to Kenya two weeks later. Namibia lead the group after their 2-1 win over Kenya in Windhoek on Saturday.

Zimbabwe were well worth their draw in Conakry, much tribute for their solid display owed to second half substitute Clemence Matawu, who replaced the injured Harlington Shereni in midfield.

Valinhos handed a first cap to Joseph Ngwenya, who lasted 85 minutes before being hauled off for Kaizer Chiefs’ Tinashe Nengomasha.

Zimbabwe’s first real chance in a tightly-fought encounter fell to Gilbert Mushangazhike just after the break, but he headed wide when set up by Cephas Chimedza, roving on the left.

Moments later, Zimbabwe were fortunate not to concede when Fode Mansara raced through. With Warriors shot stopper Energy Murambadoro closing the angle, the striker tried to swivel the ball around but the big goalkeeper got a touch with a stretched leg. Great save.

With Matawu and Takesure Chinyama running the show in the middle of the park, Zimbabwe could afford to raid forward with more liberty – Shereni’s caution replaced with Matawu’s ambition. Skipper Benjani Mwaruwari was twice denied, first the goalkeeper parried his shot out for a corner on 67 minutes and moments later his header was also comfortably gathered.

Zimbabwe arrived back home on Monday and immediately started preparations for Sunday’s clash with the Namibians.

Goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini and midfielder Honour Gombami are likely to be the only additions to Valinhos’ side.

Warriors Line-Up
E Murambadoro, D Kutyauripo, O Bhasera, Z Makonese, J Matola, E Nyandoro, J Ngwenya (T Nengomasha 85th min), C Chimedza, H Shereni (C Matawu 62nd min), G Mushangazhike (Chinyama 62nd min), B Mwaruwari.

2010 World Cup/African Cup of Nations Qualifiers:
Group Three Results:

Namibia 2-1 Kenya; Guinea 0-0 Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s Remaining Fixtures:

6-8 June-Zimbabwe vs Namibia

16-18 June-Kenya vs Zimbabwe

22-26 June-Zimbabwe vs Kenya

6-8 September-Namibia vs Zimbabwe

17-19 October Zimbabwe vs Guinea

South Africa qualify as hosts. The 12 group winners and the eight best runners-up will contest the next stage in the qualification process.

Group Three Log:

	Team	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	Namibia	1	1	0	0	2	1	3
2	Guinea	1	0	1	0	0	0	1
3	Zimbabwe	1	0	1	0	0	0	1
4	Kenya	1	0	0	1	1	2	0

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