The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda
CLIVE AUGUSTO has already scored two big goals at Barbourfields this season and todays’ African Nations Championship qualifier against Mauritius at the same venue presents the Premiership’s top scorer with an opportunity to shine on the international stage.
So far, the Chicken Inn striker has banged 14 goals, two of them coming against giants Dynamos and Highlanders at Barbourfields, which Augusto sees as his second home after the Gamecocks’ venue, Luveve, also in Bulawayo.
Augusto, who turned 25 on July 26, is expected to play a part when interim coach Rahman Gumbo’s Warriors host Mauritius in the second leg of the second round qualifier this afternoon.
Zimbabwe carry a healthy 4-0 lead, achieved in Mauritius after a rescheduled fixture last Monday.
Should the Warriors sail through, as is hugely expected, they will play either Lesotho and South Africa for a place at the 2020 CHAN finals in Cameroon.
Lesotho beat Bafana Bafana 3-2 in the first leg at Setsoto Stadium in Maseru on July 28 and the return leg is also on today in South Africa.
However, Augusto, who failed to hit the target in Mauritius in the first leg, is relishing an opportunity to score his first Warriors goal in a familiar territory.
“If I get a chance, it would be a good feeling playing at Barbourfields because it feels like I am home when I am there.
“To have a chance to play international football is an honour, everyone wants to use such opportunities,” Augusto said.
Augusto is one of the new faces in this CHAN squad alongside his teammate Xolani Ndlovu, Dynamos’ striker Evans Katema and ZPC Kariba right back Ian Nekati.
Veteran Manica Diamonds centre back Partson Jaure, who was part of the Warriors group that reached the 2014 CHAN semi-finals in Cape Town, South Africa, is the captain of this home-grown bunch.
Jaure knows the CHAN games provide a platform to be noticed by international suitors, and has called upon his troops to give it their all.
However, today’s match appears more of a dead rubber due to the Warriors’ healthy lead.
“We have to put in a lot of work so that we qualify for the CHAN finals again and get opportunities. I think we have a lot of young and talented players who can still make a grade in any of the good leagues around,” said Jaure.
FC Platinum midfielder Never Tigere and Yadah star Leeroy Mavhunga scored a brace each in the first leg in Mauritius and could add to their tallies in these qualifiers.
The Warriors have only missed one edition of the CHAN finals — the 2018 competition – since its 2011 launch in Cote d’Ivoire.
