The Sunday Mail
The country’s heavily polarised soccer supporters unions have been called upon to bury their differences and lend a united voice towards the Warriors’ bid to dismiss Tanzania’s Taifa Stars. The Zimbabwe National Soccer Supporters’ Association has claimed to be, and often been recognised, as the “official” supporters’ union.
However, the coming in of Cuthbert Dube as Zifa boss has seen the often militant ZNSSA being sidelined, while the controversial Friends of the Warriors gains prominence.
A lot of salvos have been exchanged between the two bodies, with ZNSSA accusing the Friends of the Warriors of being Dube’s lap dogs.
The Friends of the Warriors accuse ZNSSA of being enemies of the game, claiming that some of the association’s officials were involved in the Asiagate match-fixing scandal.
However, both associations appear to be singing the same patriotic tune as the Warriors get ready for battle.
ZNSSA “godfather” Eddie “Mboma” Nyatanga believes Tanzania will crumble if the supporters’ groups shelve their differences and collectively rally behind the national team.
“Zimbabwe is for all of us and we must all give the Warriors maximum support despite our differences as supporters’ associations. I have a lot of faith in Ian Gorowa as a coach; I have known him for a long time. Let us give him the chance; he can take us places because he wants to prove a point. That 1-0 defeat in Tanzania is not an issue because I am certain we can score three or more goals here.
“However, that can only be possible if we turn up in our thousands at the stadium,” he said.
Friends of the Warriors president Lynn Green dismissed Tanzania’s chances of causing an upset, basing her argument on the first leg game she watched in Dar es Salaam.
Green also believes the supporters have an important role to play this afternoon.
“We have nothing to fear; Tanzania are not that difficult, I tell you. We were just unlucky to lose that match and I am sure the Warriors will wallop the Taifa Stars and qualify for the next stage. Every soccer-loving Zimbabwean should rally behind the Warriors both physically and spiritually.
“We have a set of players who want to prove something and that desire for success should carry us through,” she said.
Meanwhile, Zifa have played their part in raising cheer among fans by pegging the cheapest ticket at US$1.
