insidesport:with MICHAEL KARIATI
The Zimbabwe national soccer team, the Warriors’ assignments for the year 2019 have finally come to an end and for that matter on a happy note with that 2-1 win over Zambia’s Chipolopolo, which was inspired by the magical touch of Khama Billiat.
Critics have given the Warriors a favourable end of term report and are unanimous that against the Chipolopolo, the team looked organised, balanced, and kept their shape, something that has been none existent over the past five months or so.
It was a good ending to a cruel beginning, which saw the Warriors leave the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt battered and bruised following that 4-0 thrashing at the hands of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and with, only one point — from three matches — to their belt.
The lessons learnt from that Egypt experience have been of great value to Zimbabwean football and the Warriors are now in good stead of qualifying for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations finals, although, some might argue that, it is still too early to say.
However, events on the ground seem to suggest that the Warriors could even secure their ticket to Cameroon 2021 well before the qualification process is over as from the outset they seem to have only Algeria to contend with from a group where two teams qualify.
It is also a pleasure to report that the experience of Egypt 2019 has also brought with it extra rewards. The Warriors have qualified for the 2020 Africa Nations Championships (Chan) and are also in the running for one of the five places reserved for Africa at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar having disposed of Somalia 3-2 over two matches.
All this provides evidence that the good days have started to roll, but it is also important to ensure that the celebrations — which have lit up Zimbabwe — are not short lived but also guaranteed in future.
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The win over the Chipolopolo of Zambia should be a springboard for better things to come, and some big decisions have to be made right now before Zimbabwe embarks first, on their Chan journey, before the 2022 World Cup and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations assignments.
The biggest decision the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) has to make is on the coach of the Warriors. Joey Antipas has hit the nail on the head by coming out in the open that he wants to stay as coach of the side.
The Chicken Inn gaffer has been in charge of the Warriors in six matches — winning three, drawing two, and losing one. During his tenure, apart from the game against Zambia, the Warriors cannot be described to have been formidable but were simply ordinary but still won their matches.
The questions are: Can Zimbabwe look forward to an exciting and bright future with Antipas? Does he have what it takes to take the Warriors to the Promised Land or more importantly, was the Zambian game enough judgment to entrust him with the responsibility of handling Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifiers? Or should Zifa experiment with another local coach or decide to go foreign?
The ball is now in Zifa’s court to decide and the football federation should attend to this issue as a matter of urgency as the coach forms the cornerstone from where every team is built.
In the euphoria of success, Zifa should also not easily forget that old age problems still remain. The players need to be satisfied financially and that should begin by ensuring that they have been paid all their dues for the games against Botswana and Zambia.
In fact, in the light of recent challenges, the football federation should make sure that there are no ‘money problems’ to distract the team when the Warriors return for their double assault on the 2021 Nations Cup and the 2022 World Cup.
Another challenge in Zifa’s hands is to see to it that the coach — whoever it would be — is accorded enough warm up matches to fine tune his team before the qualifiers resume.
Zimbabwe is blessed with an abundance of talented footballers scattered across the globe and they need a look in and this cannot be done over one or two matches.
The truth is that belief has been rekindled in the Warriors and team manager Wellington Mpandare says their prime target is qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
If the likes of Togo, Angola, Honduras, and Jamaica could make it, why can’t Zimbabwe do the same? After all, who would have thought that Senegal would reach the quarter finals of the 2002 World Cup? Nothing is impossible in life.
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