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Fungai Muderere, [email protected]

NORMAN Mapeza’s charges will tomorrow afternoon walk into the Bingu Stadium with a spring to take on Kenya in a final match of the Four Nations tournament that is set to conclude in Malawi.

Four countries including hosts Malawi, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya were part of the football fiesta.

Powered by England-based forward Macauley Bonne, who finally made his Warriors debut and scored a goal as Zimbabwe defeated old rivals Zambia. They came from two goals down to edge Chipolopolo 6-5 in a sudden death penalty shootout in the competition’s first semi-final match.

With the result Zimbabwe booked a place against Kenya in the final.

After going two goals down, the Warriors pulled one back through England-based McCaulley Bonne before ex-FC Platinum forward magician Walter Musona, now with Simba Bhora, restored parity for his team, beating Zambian goalkeeper Lawrence Mulenga in the second minute of the referee’s optional time.

It was a match in which Bonne found his 100th career goal. Interestingly, it was his debut for the Warriors after having played for the then Callisto Pasuwa’s mentored Under-23 side that took on Morocco in an international friendly close to a decade ago.

“We had a good game in the second-half against Zambia and we are hoping to see the boys combine well in our final match against Kenya. Everyone is fighting for his place, and I’m impressed about that.

“We played well (against Zambia) despite conceding two early goals. We took the game to Zambia and we should have won it in regulation time,” said Warriors head coach Norman Mapeza in an interview.

In their semi-final tie, the Warriors had Chicken Inn goalminder Donovan Bernard to thank.

When it came down to the dreaded penalty shootout, Bernard proved to be a hero for the Warriors as he saved two spot kicks, including one in sudden death.

Andy Rinomhota, Musona, Tinotenda Kadewere, Marshall Munetsi, Devine Lunga, Gerald Takwara, Bernard and Botswana-based Msendami took penalties for Mapeza’s mentored men.

The evergreen duo of Musona and Lunga had their spotkicks saved before ginger-haired Msendami, against all odds, held his breath to score the final effort that sent the Warriors through.

Warriors Squad

Goalkeepers: Martin Mapisa, Donovan Bernard, Marley Tavaziva

Defenders: Shane Maroodza, Divine Lunga, Gerald Takwara, Kevin Moyo, Teenage Hadebe, Peter Muduhwa, Munashe Garananga, Emmanuel Jalai, Jordan Zemura, Joey Phuthi

Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi, Junior Makunike, Andy Rinomhota, Tivonge Rushesha, Tawanda Chirewa, Walter Musona

Strikers: Tinotenda Kadewere, Daniel Msendami, Tawanda Maswanhise, Macauley Bonne
—@FungaiMuderere