Antipas’ big moment

Sport
Zimbabwe’s local based Warriors this afternoon traverse the rivers and mountain ranges of Lesotho as they hunt, not only for the crocodile but for a ticket to 2020 African Nations Championship (Chan) in Cameroon.

BY MUNYARADZI MADZOKERE

Zimbabwe’s local based Warriors this afternoon traverse the rivers and mountain ranges of Lesotho as they hunt, not only for the crocodile but for a ticket to 2020 African Nations Championship (Chan) in Cameroon.

The sixth edition of the continental competition for local based players is slated for January and February.

And Zimbabwe are just 90 minutes away from making a fifth appearance at the tournament after beating Lesotho Likuena (Crocodiles) 3-1 in the first leg of the final round qualifier at the National Sports Stadium last month.

It’s a time of reckoning for Warriors caretaker coach Joey Antipas (pictured below), who began his reign on the local football hot seat in the worst possible manner, an embarrassing defeat to minnows Somalia in the first leg of the preliminary round of the 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifiers in August.

After eventually managing to lead the Warriors to the group stages of the Fifa World Cup qualifiers, Antipas is on the brink of recording his first major success with the Warriors barely two months into the job.

“It would be good if we qualify and we still have 90 minutes to do that. So, that question I will answer it after the 90 minutes,” Antipas said ahead of the match.

And with all the players that he called into camp, save for Evans Katema who failed to make the trip, Antipas is optimistic of strengthening his CV further.

Much of his optimism stems from the fact that his players need very little motivation to write their own piece of history and be part of Zimbabwe’s football success stories.

“There is no bigger motivation for players than knowing that its 90 minutes to go and if they get a positive result, they are in the finals. But for now we can’t get too carried away about it and we just got to be humble and relaxed about it. We can only get into the comfort zone once we qualify,” Antipas said.

Sealing a Chan spot with a positive result would go a long way in enhancing Antipas’ chances of getting the Warriors job on a fulltime basis.

Zifa has reiterated that they are still looking for a substantive coach for the national team and will also consider Antipas based on the team’s performances.

In an interview on the sidelines of the Premier Soccer League International Symposium in Victoria Falls last week, Zifa president Felton Kamambo said the Chicken Inn gaffer had the advantage over other candidates as he currently headed the senior national team.

“He is on an interim basis up to the end of the year,” Kamambo said.

“We will be flighting adverts very soon looking for the coach. “There has been talk about a foreign coach, but we are just looking for a coach, whether foreign or local and for your own information, Antipas has an advantage over others because he is currently the coach on an interim basis.

“If he performs, why not get him as a substantive coach? It is not about a foreign coach. It’s about the best coach that Zimbabwe can get.”

It explains why Chan qualification is so important for the Chicken Inn coach and he is eager to achieve that in style by securing another victory today.

“The main thing is to qualify because you could win, lose, draw the match and still qualify. But our main emphasis is to go out there and qualify. But it would be best to qualify with a win,” Antipas said.

“Lesotho is a very dangerous team at home so we have to be on our toes.

“We cannot go there and be complacent because complacency kills so every player has to go there 100% focused and 100% mentality and 100% fitness; once we get all that then we can do it.”

It will be interesting to see if Antipas keeps faith in the side that triumphed in the first leg with CAPS United talisman Joel Ngodzo, who missed the first leg because his passport had expired, being roped into the travelling squad after renewing his travelling document.

In-form striker Prince Dube, who scored a double in the reverse leg, is expected to lead Zimbabwe’s charge today.

Warriors Chan squad

Goalkeepers: Simbarashe Chinani (Dynamos), Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders).

Defenders: Partson Jaure (Manica Diamonds), Peter Muduwa (Highlanders), Frank Makarati (Ngezi Platinum), Ian Nekati (ZPC Kariba), MacClive Phiri (Highlanders), Xolani Ndlovu (Chicken Inn).

Midfielders: Kelvin Madzongwe (FC Platinum), Tichaona Chipunza (Chicken Inn), Nqobizitha Masuku (Highlanders), Ralph Kawondera (Triangle), Joel Ngodzo (CAPS United), Valentine Kadonzvo (Chicken Inn), Phenias Bamusi (CAPS United)

Strikers: Prince Dube (Highlanders), Obriel Chirinda (Chicken Inn), Wellington Taderera (Black Rhinos).