Zimpapers Logo

From Petros Kausiyo in RUSTENBURG, South Africa
Zimbabwe 1-4 Namibia
CAPTAIN Danny Phiri apologised to the nation as woeful Zimbabwe crashed out of the Cosafa Cup tournament following a humiliating defeat by Namibia in a Group A decider at Moruleng stadium here last night.

The Warriors arrived at the match venue needing at least a point to advance to the quarter-finals as they had a two-point advantage over the Brave Warriors on the group standings.

But it took just nine minutes for the Brave Warriors to turn the tables and race into a confidence-boosting lead and eventually set up a date with Zambia in Sunday’s quarter-final clash at the same venue.

By the time Madagascar referee Hamada el Moussa blew to end the match it was the Brave Warriors who were celebrating their second biggest win over Zimbabwe in any competition.

Their biggest victory remains the 2010 World Cup qualifier in October 2008 when the Brave Warriors upstaged the Warriors 4-2 in Windhoek.

Last night second half goals by double scorer Deon Hotto and substitute Sadney Urikhob added to centre back Chris Katjiukia’s opener for the Namibians.

The Warriors got their face saver from Raphael Manuvire’s penalty eight minutes from time.

But it is the manner in which the Warriors, clearly out of sorts, crumbled on the night which left their captain and midfielder Phiri apologetic.

The Chicken Inn man felt they had let the nation down after flattering Zimbabweans with two wins over Mauritius and Seychelles in their opening Group A games.

“First of all I want to apologise on behalf of the players and myself and say we’re really sorry to Zimbabweans about our performance. We never took off and we’re really disappointed, everyone in the dressing room is very disappointed. I think the early goal they scored unsettled us because it gave them more confidence and somehow we just opened up more and they came at us. I think we could have done better but tonight it was Namibia who were the better team,’’ Phiri said.

His coach Saul Chaminuka said their game plan never came into effect as the Namibians came to Moruleng with other ideas.

“It is more than disappointing to lose . . . we were very optimistic that we could at least scrap a draw but we did just about everything wrong the marking, the passing and the shooting,’’ Chaminuka said.

Chaminuka who should also take the flak for a tactical switch that terribly backfired on him said he had chosen a more defensive approach with hope of grinding out at least a draw.

The former ZPC Kariba gaffer switched Thomas Magorimbo into a defensive midfield role to partner Phiri and put Carlos Rusere at left back.

Magorimbo who had a nightmare in the middle and Caps United skipper Hardlife Zvirekwi who was a highway on the right flank were the Warriors’ worst performers on their forgettable night where even Ronald Chitiyo was out of form.

Chaminuka said he had noted that Namibia had quicker players and had sought to contain the pace of such players like Golden Arrows striker Hotto but by the time the 25 year-old forward was rested late on he had struck twice past George Chigova.

“Our game plan didn’t go as we had planned. We intended to slow them down and play at a pace we’re comfortable with. We knew that Namibia would come at us because they needed an outright win and we were hoping to catch them on the beak.

“I think we have learnt a lot from this game one of the lessons being that you never win before you win not that we were complacent but that we didn’t get going,’’ Chaminuka said.

The Brave Warriors stunned the Warriors and their band of fans when they raced into the lead after just nine minutes with Golden Arrows centre back Chris Katjiukua heading past George Chigova off a short corner taken from the goalkeeper’s right.

Namibia had got off the blocks faster forcing three corners in those opening nine minutes and it was from their third corner that they found the target.

The Brave Warriors’ had earlier on also forced Chigova to use his reflexes to tip over the bar Hotto’s shot struck on the run.

Just when Zimbabwe sought to level terms in the second period they were pegged back when Namibia went on a swift counter raid that saw Hotto race clear on goal and chip the ball over an advancing Chigova.

Seven minutes later Hotto sped past Talent Chawapiwa and Zvirekwi on the left, saw Chigova moving off his line again and slid the ball between the tall goalkeeper’s legs.

Manuvire appeared to restore some hope when he converted his penalty eight minutes from time but any hopes of a Houdini Act by the Warriors were immediately dashed as Urikhob added the Brave Warriors fourth a minute later.

A contest for top spot was always going to be between Namibia and Zimbabwe with Seychelles and Mauritius still very much the minnows of the African game and virtually there to make up numbers in the pool.

Until last night, Namibia had managed just one Cosafa Cup triumph over Zimbabwe — a 2-1 win over the late Ian Porterfield’s team in the inaugural tournament in March 1997 in Windhoek.

Zimbabwe then managed two victories at the National Sports stadium thumping the Brave Warriors 5-2 in with a combined five wins between them.

TEAMS

ZIMBABWE: George Chigova, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Thomas Magorimbo (Moses Demera , Raphael Kawondera, Partson Jaure, Danny Phiri, Talent Chawapiwa, Tatenda Mudehwe, (Evans Rusike 46th minute) Pritchard Mphelele (Raphael Manuvire 46th minute), Ronald Chitiyo, Carlos Rusere

NAMIBIA: Virgil Vries, Denzil Haoseb, Annanias Gebhardt, Willem Mwedihanga, Chris Katjiukua, Deon Hotto, Itaminua Keimuine, Wangu Gome, Himeekua Ketjijere, Peter Shalulile, Petrus Shitembe.