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which spiced the team’s massive homecoming show at Rufaro watched by a capacity crowd of an estimated 35 000 fans.

Skipper Method Mwanjali last night paid tribute to local fans for being patient and rooting for his troops as Rufaro danced to the Warriors’ rhythm in this 2012 African Cup of Nations Group A qualifier.
Mwanjali led from the back as the Warriors ground out a crucial win that ensured that Zimbabwe remained in contention for a place at the 2012 Nations Cup finals to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Anything short of a win would have ended the Warriors’ interests in the qualification race.
But with Liberia upstaging Cape Verde 1-0 in a later game in Monrovia last night, Group A was thrown wide open and that result put into perspective the significance of the Warriors victory.

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After failing to win in their opening three games, some had begun to doubt the pedigree of this class of Warriors.
And Mwanjali admitted pressure was on his troops, but felt the local fans had helped make their job easier by singing and dancing to their rhythm instead of booing his players.

The Mamelodi Sundowns utility man dedicated the win to the fans who packed Rufaro yesterday while millions more followed the game live on television.
The Warriors also fittingly went on a lap of honour around Rufaro to salute the fans with eccentric goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini leading the way with some fine dance moves.
As the traditional Zimbabwe party song Nyoka Musango by Chimurenga guru Thomas Mapfumo belted in the background, Warriors coach Norman Mapeza, equally under pre-ssure to secure his first win, also went on a lap of honour to thank the fans.

Mwanjali said he was hopeful the Warriors would create a similar bond with their fans for their next assignment at home against Liberia in September.
“It was a crucial game for us. The pressure was there all week, but we managed to hold our nerve. I think lady luck was also on our side.

“We dedicate this win to the fans who came to support us here, they made a big difference in this game because they stood by us.
“Let’s hope each and every game that we play they will be coming like that and we are also happy we fulfilled our promise to them.
“We also dedicate this win to Mudhara Tswatswa (goalkeeper’s coach) who turned 54 on Friday and we had vowed to win it for him,” Mwanjali said.
Mwanjali also praised double scorer Knowledge Musona for forcing the Warriors to victory.

“Knowledge is one of the best strikers emerging from our game and we should give him all the support as a nation, the support should not just come from us his teammates,” Mwanjali said.
Such was the massive response to the call to support the Warriors that that some fans were even turned away from Rufaro for the make or break game which attracted a colourful and capacity crowd at the ceremonial home of football.

Zifa must also be commended for having decided to keep the entry charges for the rest of the ground at an affordable US$3, which is also the normal charge for domestic Premiership matches.
The big game also attracted a host of international visitors and scouts like Mamelodi Sundowns’ Trott Moloto, sports analyst and marketing expert Ryan Paterson of the VW Junior Masters fame, the Mali Football

Federation leadership and former Warriors’ players and coaches including England-based Benjani Mwaruwari and Rahman Gumbo who has just returned home to coach FC Platinum.
While his captain heaped praise on him for firing the Warriors to glory, Musona, who has now scored all his team’s goals in this campaign, remained as humble as his beginnings and insisted “it was all about the team”.

“I may have scored the goals but it is not about me… it is a team effort, we played as a team and this win is for the whole country,” Musona said.
The Kaizer Chiefs hotshot struck either side of half time to send Rufaro into delirium, his first coming in the 43rd minute before he sealed the win three minutes from time.

Crucially for Zimbabwe, Musona was brave enough to take the responsibility when the Warriors were awarded a penalty after Ovidy Karuru had been upended in the box.
Gloom had struck Rufaro when Mali goalkeeper Soulmaila Diakate dived to his right to block Musona’s initial effort but first assistant referee Zakele Siwela correctly adjudged that the big Eagles stopper had moved forward just before the Warriors forward had struck the ball and referee Daniel Bennett ordered a retake.

Once given the opportunity for a second bite of the cherry, Musona made no mistake sending his effort to the left of the diving goalkeeper.
“I usually place my penalties to the left of the goalkeeper but the Mali goalkeeper had been saving my headers and my shorts on that side and I thought I could try his left.

“Once a retake was ordered I had to quickly pick myself up again and I decided to take it to my usual side and I am happy it went in.
“I must dedicate these goals to my coach then my teammates and the supporters,” Musona said.

For veteran goalkeepers’ coach Tswatswa, the victory meant he could now celebrate his birthday with the squad.
“The match was still to be played on Friday so we only had a brief ceremony when my daughter Jacqueline brought us a big cake.

“Now that my birthday wish has been fulfilled with this win, we can have time to celebrate because it is an important win for us,” Tswatswa said.
Assistant coach Joey Antipas also chipped and remained hopeful that other results in the group would help the Warriors cause.

Antipas also said the Warriors’ fighting spirit was crucial to ending their winless run.
“”I though their fighting was excellent, they never gave up until the end and I think there were more positives than negatives from this game.

“Hopefully the results from the games in the group will go our way because this win has opened up the race,” Antipas said.
Now that they have “finally got the monkey off their back” and remembered how to win, the Warriors look certain to take the qualification race to the wire.

And with their romance with the fans having been revived, many are already looking forward to the Warriors’ next home game against Liberia in September.