MAMELODI Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has backed the Warriors to impress at next year’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Gabon, tipping them to win the tournament.
BY HENRY MHARA
Mosimane says Zimbabwe have the personnel and quality to be ranked among teams that can possibly win the continent’s biggest football title.
He says the attacking talent, with the likes of Khama Billiat, who has set the South African league alight, Knowledge Musona and Cuthbert Malajila, gives the Warriors a good chance.
“We never thought Zimbabwe would qualify, Musona, Khama, Willard (Katsande) and Malajila have made sure that their team qualifies for the Africa Cup of Nations and they are dark horses [for the tournament]. They have a very good attack,” Mosimane is quoted as saying by the South African media.
The Warriors enjoyed an almost perfect qualifying campaign, making it to the Gabon finals as Group L winners with a game to spare.
They are the only Southern African team that has so far qualified for the showpiece and currently enjoy the elite company of heavyweights such as Ghana, Cameroon, Algeria and Senegal, who have also booked their place at the finals.
It is only the third time that Zimbabwe have qualified for the Afcon, having previously done so in 2004 and 2006.
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Former Warriors skipper Ephraim Chawanda and midfielder Esrom Nyandoro have also said the current squad is the best group the country has ever produced.
They have the silky Billiat as a source of inspiration in attack, and in addition they also have the speedy Musona and the annoyingly efficient Katsande.
A supporting cast of the suitably named Marvelous Nakamba and Costa Nhamoinesu, is the stuff of dreams for most coaches who will be at Gabon next January.
But while they look menacing in attack, they still appear lightweight at the back, and there are some overtures behind the scenes by the authorities to try and entice England-based defenders such as Burnley’s Tendayi Darikwa and Brendan Galloway of Everton to turn up for the Warriors in Gabon.
