The Sunday News
Fungai Muderere, Sports Reporter
WARRIORS midfielder Kudakwashe “Nkembe” Mahachi feels he is one of the most underrated players in the Zimbabwe’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations squad but he is in Gabon to prove the country’s Group B opponents otherwise.
The Warriors, after 10 years in the peripheries of the Africa’s soccer biennial competition, begin their 2017 Afcon campaign this evening when they face Algeria, a team that the Peter Ndlovu captained Warriors side beat 2-1 in the 2004 Afcon edition.
Mahachi (23), who now turns out for South Africa’s Golden Arrows, feels underrated, a bracket that a number of Zimbabwe’s players that include goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, Tino Kadewere, Elisha Muroiwa, Teenage Hadebe, Evans Rusike, Cuthbert Malajila, Tendai Ndoro, Bruce Kangwa, Mathew Rusike and Nyasha Mushekwi fall within.
“As a team we have that underdog tag and I’m glad among other players in our squad I have personally been underrated ahead of this Afcon tournament. Let them focus on our main men (Khama Biliat, Knowledge Musona),” said Mahachi in an interview from Gabon.
Musona and Billiat were the central characters of the qualification success with three goals apiece, while Malajila chipped in with two as Zimbabwe finished ahead of Swaziland, Malawi and Guinea.
“I will prove our opponents wrong. I’m on national duty and I’m here to prove our opponents wrong. No one should be underrated from our team,” said the former Chicken Inn and Highlanders nimble-footed player.
During the Warriors preparatory match against Cameroon played last Tuesday, television commentators seemed to be impressed by Mahachi’s ball artistry and wizardry. After the match, that end 1-1, most journalists wanted to interview the Mzilikazi-bred Warriors star.
As the Warriors go into this evening, Mahachi is expected to do duty in the middle of the park together with team captain Willard Katsande, his ex-Chicken Inn teammate Danny “Deco” Phiri, Musona and Billiat.
Without his suspended close friend Marvelous Nakamba Warriors diehard fans will wait to see how Mahachi will perfectly gel with the quintet that is likely to see Orlando Pirates free scoring forward Ndoro play as the main Warriors striker.
— @FungaiMuderere
