The Sunday Mail
Petros Kausiyo in SUN CITY, South Africa
WHEN Zimbabwe’s Warriors begin their latest onslaught on the Cosafa Cup title tomorrow, they will not only be looking for a record fifth title.
The Warriors have a double mission as they will also be playing for their coach Sunday Chidzambwa, who has an enviable reputation of having never lost a game in this competition.
The 2017 edition of the COSAFA Castle Cup gets underway this afternoon at Moruleng stadium when guest nation Tanzania face Malawi in the opening Group A match at 3pm before Angola clash against Mauritius two and half hours later.
Zimbabwe will then spring into action at 5 pm tomorrow when they start their Group campaign with a clash against Mozambique while Syechelles will take on Madagascar at the same venue.
The message from the Warriors co-captain for this tournament Ovidy Karuru was very clear yesterday that they will have to play for their coach Chidzambwa.
Karuru revealed that Chidzambwa had challenged them to help him preserve his proud record and win Southern Africa’s flagship tournament again.
On the two occasions that Chidzambwa, the Warriors most successful coach, has taken charge of the senior team in this tournament, he has won the title – in 2003 and in 2009.
This time around, Chidzambwa has returned to coach the Warriors on an interim basis in a special arrangement by ZIFA but Karuru observed, “the hunger to win’’ a personal hat-trick of COSAFA titles and a record fifth for the country is evident in the veteran coach.
“When the coach addressed us on the first day of this camp, he told us that he has never lost a COSAFA match and he wants us to continue with that clean record.
“But he stressed that he was not putting us under any pressure at all and will still accept it if by chance we lose. He just wants us to enjoy our game at the same time compete and that is what we are going out there to try and achieve,’’ Karuru said.
Despite several years of an on and off flirtation with the national team, Karuru had never played for the Warriors in a COSAFA tournament and reckons this is his opportunity to also win the regional title with the senior team.
“It will be nice to win the trophy with the senior team. I played the COSAFA with the Under-20 team when we had the likes of Knowledge Musona, Tafadzwa Rusike and Thabani Kamusoko in our side.
“I also played in the squad that finished third and another that ended fourth but now after some years away from the senior team I feel it is a privilege and I have to take the led together with the other experienced guys to guide all the youngsters that we have in the team.
Zimbabwe could be the first country to win five Cosafa titles if they test success in this tournament.
The Warriors jointly share the record of four with Zambia and South Africa, Angola are on three.
Mozambique just like Zimbabwe have sent an interim coach for this tournament with the Mambas giving the nod to their assistant Alcides Chambal to take charge of the squad in this campaign.
“We have brought a young team but our objective is to compete. I think the young players we selected in consultation with the head coach is a build up for the CHAN, which we want also qualify for.
“We have never beaten Zimbabwe in the Cosafa before and we know it will not be easy but we have no reason to feel intimidated,” he said.
