Published by the government of Zimbabwe
Robson Sharuko
3 November 2009
Harare — ZIMBABWE'S Warriors took their merry band of faithful fans into Dreamland on Sunday -- following a comprehensive victory over bitter rivals Zambia in the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup final at Rufaro -- to crown a happy ending to a fascinating journey full of twists and turns for the home nation.
From the depths of the disappointment of the 2-2 draw against Lesotho, which almost ended their campaign at the preliminary phase, the nail-biting drama of the penalty shootout lottery against South Africa to the ecstasy of the grand victory over Zambia, the Warriors endured it all.
But, in the end, their class and determination lifted them above all the opposition and, on a sun-drenched afternoon at Rufaro on Sunday, a capacity crowd watched, as the Warriors were crowned champions of Southern Africa for the fourth time, in the era of the Cosafa Cup.
A journey that had begun with a trip to State House, where the Warriors got the presidential blessings ahead of their tough campaign, ended with inspirational skipper Method Mwanjali receiving the Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup from President Mugabe.
Big striker Nyasha Mushekwi, returning from the injury that had kept him out of the team's three matches against Lesotho, Botswana and South Africa, was the hero of the 3-1 win over Zambia in the final after firing home a memorable brace that powered his country to glory.
But this was by no means a one-man show.
Cuthbert Malajila, whose four goals in the tournament gave him the Golden Boot, struck the other goal in added time in the first half -- a superb effort that was a product of neat exchanges of passes with his strike-partner and quick movement into space that fooled the Zambian defence.
Captain Mwanjali was rock-solid at the back and was well complemented by his central defensive partner -- the hardworking Daniel Vheremu -- whose strength and built, coupled with his brilliant performance during this tournament, should open avenues for him to join a foreign team.
Gilbert Mapemba has been one of the success stories of this tournament, with his assured performances down the right flank, and he was again impressive on Sunday as he boosted the numbers of his attacking teammates and piled the pressure on the Zambians.
Ashley Rambanepasi fought like a true Warrior in the middle of the park, battling for every ball in a superb display of strength and determination, and helped neutralise the creativity of a technically superior Zambian midfield led by the impressive Henry Banda.
Mthulisi Maphosa kept his line well, sticking to the task at hand against midfield opponents blessed with better talents, while crowd favourite Chris Semakweri turned on a show pregnant with flicks and touches of dribbling wizardry down the flanks.
Big goalkeeper Eddie Sibanda made two great stops, with one-handed saves at full stretch from headers, that squeezed hope and life out of the Zambians who needed a breakthrough, after they went 1-3 down, for them to believe in a comeback.
The CAPS United goalminder was voted the Goalkeeper of the Tournament and paid tribute to his teammates for the manner they fought as a team culminating in their success story at Rufaro on Sunday.
"It's always good when the things that you will be doing at training come out very well and the team wins and we are happy that we have won this tournament," said Sibanda.
"I'm also happy to have won this award as the best goalkeeper during the tournament but we played as one team, which is important, and the success belongs to everyone.
"We fought together and, even when we were down, we still believed that we could win and we found our way back into the game and we are all happy to be crowned the champions."
This Warriors' team badly lacked a playmaker like the old Ronald Sibanda, a gifted individual who could take the ball in midfield and send that defence-splitting pass into the enemy zone for Malajila and Mushekwi to feast on.
They struggled for life in that midfield area, for the spark that could be created by a gifted individual capable of turning the game on its head with one sublime movement, and they played second fiddle in this crucial department against the majority of their opponents.
But in Sunday Chidzambwa, the Warriors had an experienced and good coach who understood the value of making up for the team's shortcomings in creativity, in the middle of the park, by employing an attacking formation that relied on width down the left and right sides.
Tafadzwa Rusike might not have shone like the beacon that we all expected him to become but, at 20, he has age on his side and -- under the guidance of such expert coaches like Chidzambwa -- he will certainly develop into a better player.
Down that left flank, he can receive the support of Asani Nhongo, who justified why Chidzambwa was right to prefer him ahead of Reuben Mhlanga, while Semakweri and Mapemba provided the width down the right.
Phillip Marufu kept being thrown in to provide support down the left and silenced his critics, including those in the mainstream media who labelled him a spent force, with a priceless goal against South Africa.
Benjamin Marere also had cameo roles that gave the team strength and pace when they badly needed it.
This collection of Warriors did not have one outstanding individual, like a Peter Ndlovu in his prime, but they had a genuine leader in Mwanjali and, crucially, they had the balance in all departments that helped their cause.
Rusike and Achieford Gutu provide the youth on which to build our dreams for a better future.
Thabani Kamusoko is just 21, so is Semakweri, Mushekwi is 22, Nhongo is 23 and six of the group -- including Malajila and Vheremu -- have just turned 24.
By the time the 2012 Nations Cup finals comes around, Vheremu will be Mwanjali's age, Mushekwi will be about 24 and Rusike and Gutu should have matured into genuine Warriors whom the fans can built their trust on.
Mapemba, at about 26 that time, should be in the prime of his game and, boy oh boy, Semakweri will be about 23 and we could be in for the ride of our life.
Of course, this was only a Cosafa Senior Challenge Cup, and the real challenges are yet to come but this collection of Warriors rekindled the romance between the fans and their national team with a performance full of determination.
Even when they were tested to the limit, as was the case against Botswana at Barbourfields, they patiently went about their business and were rewarded with a last-gasp goal.
Even when they were cheated, as was the case against Lesotho in that 2-2 draw, they did not lose their focus and remained confident that they had done the hard part by destroying Mauritius.
Even when they were taken to the penalty shootout lottery, as was the case against South Africa, they found a way to remain cool under a weight of expectations and duly delivered for their coach and their country.
That's why no one panicked when they fell behind to Zambia, the fans had seen it before against South Africa, and the way they hit back was the classic stuff that builds true Warriors.
TRIUMPHANT WARRIORS' CLASS OF 2009
Player of the Tournament -- METHOD MWANJALI
A true captain who led from the front, or is it from the back, with great commitment to the cause and was outstanding in all the games that the team played. In my view, he was also the best overall player in the tournament. Thank God, he is still only 26, and should be around when the real big business starts.
Biggest Success Story -- DANIEL VHEREMU
Thrust deep into the heart of defence, as the workhorse of a central defensive partnership, the Wild Boy was brilliant throughout the tournament and grew in confidence as he used his height and strength well. The doors should soon open for him into the foreign leagues.
Most Popular Player -- CHRISTOPHER SEMAKWERI
Took the fans down memory lane to the good old days when the Warriors had wingers who were specialists in dribbling past their opponents. Still has a lot to learn, especially in terms of accuracy in crossing, but there is no questioning the skill in the man.
Best Impact Player -- NYASHA MUSHEKWI
Brought into the final after a tournament ravaged by injury, the big hitman repaid the faith shown by his coach with two goals of the highest calibre to drag the Warriors back into the game and make them believe. Still only 22, the former basketball star could be the man to turn into a reliable source for our goals -- provided he avoids injuries.
Most Effective Player -- METHOD MWANJALI
A true leader of the class, he provided direction from the back and led his troops with aplomb.
Best Comeback Story -- EDDIE SIBANDA
Relegated to the bench at the beginning of the campaign, he was given his chance when Washington Arubi had a horror show against Lesotho and he grabbed it with both hands to become the Goalkeeper of the Tournament. Very popular, too, with the fans.
Best Warriors' Moment -- EDDIE SIBANDA
The big goalkeeper, somehow finding the agility to go down, just in time to stop the first penalty by South Africa in that shootout in that semi-final at Rufaro. It set the tempo for the rest of the shootout drama won by his team.
Worst Warriors' Moment -- DYNAMOS/CAPS UNITED RIVALRY
It's a shame that the rivalry between the two groups of fans spilled into the Warriors and divided the supporters. Only if these people knew that Rusike is a Zimbabwean son permanently and a CAPS United player temporarily and Malajila is a Zimbabwean son permanently and a Dynamos son temporarily, our world would be a better place.
Surprise Element -- SUNDAY CHIDZAMBWA'S 4-4-2
For a coach who has made a life out of the virtues of playing three central defenders and five midfielders, in his 3-5-2, this was a refreshing change of direction and, while his team conceded goals (which is not normally the case), they had the shape to fight back. They also played good football.
Wilted Under Pressure -- TAFADZWA RUSIKE
Billed as the possible star of this group of Warriors, the little forward found the weight of expectations on his shoulders too much for him and he struggled to reproduce the form that has made some to believe that he could be the next Peter Ndlovu. The good thing, though, is that age is on his side and he will certainly improve.
Came Short of Expectations -- EVANS GWEKWERERE
He predicted that he would score six goals in this tournament but came out with just one and more questions about his fitness and whether he still is the player that turned into a cult-hero at Dynamos three seasons ago.
The KepeKepe Express -- GILBERT MAPEMBA
Showed why Chidzambwa was right to believe that he was the best right wingback in the country, even far better than the experienced David Kutyauripo, with a brilliant tournament in which his talent shined through.
Don't Write Me Off Yet -- PHILLIP MARUFU
He might have struggled at Dynamos this season but Chidzambwa appears to know how to get the best out of this experienced forward and his performance in the semi-final against South Africa was brilliant.
Achilles Heel -- LACK OF A PLAYMAKER
We are still looking for a replacement for Ronald Sibanda and, the problem is, the search is not looking good. Maybe Gutu will develop into that player. Without a playmaker we kept playing two defensive-minded midfielders and it gave the opponents the areas to launch their attacks.
Possible Solution -- CHRISTOPHER SEMAKWERI
Wouldn't it make sense that the coaches try and convert this talented individual into a playmaker, who can use his skills to open up defences, rather than spend the show on the periphery of the action out on the wings? Just a thought!
Poster of the Tournament -- BRING ON BRAZIL
Maybe a bit overzealous a statement by a Warriors' fan but the third goal, which destroyed Zambia, could have even made the Brazilians proud. That inter-change of passes, that movement that created the openings and how Majalila took it with the confidence of a trusted hitman.
Voice of the Tournament -- Steve Vickers
The BBC man is back in the country and did a great job, as Charles Mabika's partner, in commentating on television for SuperSport. Vickers' understanding of the players and how his analysis flowed, made it all a good television package. Well done Steve.
The CAPS United Influence
Six players from the Green Machine -- Sibanda, Mapemba, Mwanjali, Rambanepasi, Rusike and Mushekwi -- were in the Warriors' starting XI against Zambia on Sunday. Three lasted the distance and three were replaced. Given the events in the Premiership in the past month, where CAPS United have been the best team, maybe this is a true advertisement of what it means to choose a national team on merit. Thanks Mhofu!
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