Last Wednesday Zimbabwean football lovers from all the four corners of the country were united as they sang and danced with joy to the tune of Kepekepe Bhora, the popular victory chant sung by CAPS United supporters whenever they win.
insidesport with MICHAEL KARIATI
Even those adorned in the blue and white colours of Dynamos joined in the celebrations after the “Green Machine” of CAPS United rose to the occasion, to overcome USM Alger of Algeria 2-1 in their Group B CAF Champions League assignment.
It was a day to remember as only a few had given the Green Machine any chance of beating the North African side. Even bookmakers were prepared to offer odds starting at 3/1 that Makepekepe would not win the encounter.
Makepekepe, however, proved all critics wrong and in the process, have earned the respect they deserve in African football, despite their limited financial resources.
What happened on that day brings back memories of the year 1998 when Dynamos downed the likes of Telecom Wanderers of Malawi, Ferroviario of Mozambique, Eagle Cement of Nigeria and Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia at the 60 000 seater National Sports Stadium en-route to the final of the competition.
Although the “Green Machine” are still third in their group, with the same number of three points as USM Alger and a point behind top of the table Zamalek of Egypt, they are now well-positioned to qualify for the quarter finals.
CAPS now need to do well in their back-to-back assignments against Group B lightweights Al Ahly Tripoli of Libya on June 21 and 30 respectively to set themselves on course for a last eight berth.
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The Zimbabweans, however, should also be reminded that maximum points in all their remaining home games for a total of nine points could also send them through to the next round as there is a strong possibility that the north Africans will cancel each other out.
That is possible as long as the spirit of togetherness that took centre stage at the National Sports Stadium on that breezey Wednesday May 24 afternoon continues.
One hopes that the atmosphere will also repeat itself on June 11 when the Warriors of Zimbabwe host the Lone Star of Liberia in a 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.
What a day it would be.
Moving in the right direction
Surely, what a day it would be if the Warriors came out with a glut of goals against Liberia and smoothened their path of another passage to the Africa Cup of Nations finals, this time, in Cameroon in 2019.
So far, things appear to be moving in the right direction for the Warriors.
Although there are some who still believe that Dynamos’ Ocean Mushure deserved a place in the provisional 25-member squad, the fact remains that the team has already been announced and football lovers should support the squad that has been selected.
What is heartening is that Zifa is doing the best it can to make sure that the Warriors are in their right frame of mind, not only for the Liberian game, but also for future assignments to come.
In the past, there has been chaos in the Warriors camp, with players striking for non-payment of bonuses and for sub-standard accommodation. That, however, will be a thing of the past, at least according to Zifa president Phillip Chiyangwa.
The Zifa supremo revealed that players would know before the game how much they would be paid and where they would be staying with an agreement between the two parties struck before the players get on the field of play.
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