The Sunday News
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
CASTLE Lager Premier Soccer League leading goal scorer, Bukhosi Sibanda is taking being dropped from the national team in his stride and is optimistic he will have more time to prove himself in national team colours.
Warriors’ Cosafa Cup coach Sunday Chidzambwa shocked the football community when he dropped Sibanda from his travelling squad to South Africa.
The 20-year-old Bantu Rovers skipper has scored an impressive 10 goals in 14 league starts and is now a goal short of equaling the 11 goals that won Leonard Tsipa last season’s Golden Boot.
There was a chorus of discontent among football fans on social media when the final team was announced.
Zakhu, as Sibanda is popularly known, however, said he was not that disappointed although he was looking forward to doing duty for his country.
“It is every player’s dream to perform well for his country and I was hoping this is my chance but I can’t say I am disappointed. Yes, my family, friends and others feel the coach was unfair but I believe it happens.
“My time will come and maybe then I will have improved a lot,” he said.
Zakhu said he was focusing on improving his game and assisting his side survive relegation.
He said he will be taking things step by step and at some point he sees himself achieving more in the game.
Warriors’ manager Wellington Mpandare defended the decision to drop Sibanda saying the coaches had to make a decision.
However, fans felt the decision was biased considering Sibanda’s blistering form that has seen him win Player of the Month for April and is leading the goal scoring charts and a goal shy of the total haul made by last year’s golden boot winner, Tsipa.
Chidzambwa retained Mitchell Katsvairo, who is at Kaizer Chiefs’ departure lounge after failing to command a place in the team, making just 12 appearances and scoring a single goal.
The Warriors commence their Cosafa title quest tomorrow evening with a tie against Mozambique at Moruleng Stadium in North West.
Zimbabwe will also play Madagascar and Seychelles on Wednesday and Friday to complete the group stage matches.
