The Sunday News
Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE were knocked out of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations with a bottom place finish in their four-team group.
The Warriors returned home with just a point, secured from a 2-2 draw in their opening fixture with Algeria while their losses came against Senegal and Tunisia. Zimbabwe were beaten 2-0 by Senegal and ended their campaign on a disappointing note with a 4-2 loss to Tunisia.
Sunday News sought views of former coaches as well as ex players on what they think went wrong in Gabon.
Sunday Chidzambga, the first coach to take Zimbabwe to their first ever appearance at Afcon in 2004 feels the net should have been cast wider when coming up with the final squad which went to Gabon.
“We didn’t do well, what should happen is that it’s high time we go past group stages, we learnt our lesson and we should qualify again. This one is gone, let’s look at our mistakes, our shortfalls and rectify them. We need to look at our players, lets cast the net wider, we have the kind of players needed at such a tournament, they say in football we learn from mistakes and we have learnt our lesson,’’ he said.
On the issues raised on the men who took Zimbabwe to their third appearance at Afcon, Kalisto Pasuwa’s team selection, Chidzambga pointed out that every coach has players he has faith in and cannot be criticised for that.
“Each coach has got his own belief, every coach believes in the type of play he wants, the current coach believes in those he took to Gabon. There are plenty of players who were left out who could have played in that tournament, coaches differ in philosophy,’’ Chidzambga reckoned.
On how best Pasuwa should have approached the three group matches, “Mhofu” said the best way was to employ a 3-5-2 formation because in that way the Warriors would have matched their opponents. He feels opening up the game brought about demise for the Warriors.
“In football if you are playing against sides which are stronger than you, you should close shop and match them. We were playing an open game, I would have played three defenders and two wingbacks, and the best formation was a 3-5-2, that’s my opinion. At the same time what the coach used is what he believes in, coaches have different ways of approaching a game,’’ Chidzambga said.
On Zimbabwe’s chances of being at the 2019 Afcon in Cameroon, the former Warriors defender pointed out that it would not be easy for qualification to be achieved. He reiterated that the net must be cast wider and if the likes of Macauley Bonne, Tendayi Darikwa as well as Brendan Galloway who are based in the UK are willing to play for the Warriors, they should be selected. The Warriors have been drawn to play against Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville and Liberia in the qualifiers which start in June this year and conclude in November 2018.
“We are in a difficult group, DRC playing well, they are not pushovers, we really need to prepare now, and the coach must cast the net wider. Whoever is available, if they are good players and they want to play for their country we need them,’’ Chidzambga said.
South Africa-based former Warriors defensive midfielder Esrom Nyandoro said while it was disappointing to bow out at the first hurdle, a constructive view should be adopted as the team played against the best in Africa. Nyandoro, a member of the 2004 and 2006 Warriors team which went to the Afcon feels that all stakeholders in the country should be involved in advancing the standard of play.
“We are all disappointed not to win. I think we should take this in a positive way to measure ourselves with the best in Africa.
Where we need to improve our game not only the players that are playing but everyone involved with the beautiful game, before we point fingers. Look at yourself and say did I do enough, I believe there is always room to improve. The question now is do we continue with this team or we dismantle it. If so, we must have a plan where we want to be in five or eight years time this things take time. We have to start preparing like now, the moment we were out, preparations start,’’ said Nyandoro.
The 36-year-old former Warriors captain was a pundit for the South African Broadcasting Corporation during Zimbabwe’s Afcon matches.
Another South Africa domiciled ex Warriors midfielder Elasto Kapowezha felt disappointed by the team’s failure to make it to the last eight. He reckons it was always going to be difficult to finish in the top two in the group seeing that it was just the third time the Warriors have made it to the Afcon.
“A big disappointment not because we failed to progress to the quarterfinals but the way we played, realistically speaking it was always going to be a difficult task finishing second in this group but we could have done way much better. This was our third appearance at Afcon but when last were we there? So this was as good as we were playing Afcon for the first time. Yes the technical team will shoulder most of the blame but there is more that meets the eye. The only way forward for me is for us to qualify the next Afcon. We need to play at least three consecutive Afcons for Zimbabwe to be a force on the continent,’’ said Kapowezha.
On what needs to be done to ensure Zimbabwe make it to Cameroon in 2019, Kapowezha opined that it was crucial for the country’s clubs to excel in continental competitions. He also called for improved relations between the Zimbabwe Football Association and the Premier Soccer League for the sake of the nation. In the event that Pasuwa has indeed resigned, Kapowezha believes the right candidate should fill the post.
The quarter finals of the tournament started yesterday.
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