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Kuda Mahachi

From Lawrence Moyo in CAPE TOWN, South Africa
MIDFIELDER Kuda Mahachi believes the Warriors owe it to the Cape Town supporters and the only way to thank them will be by beating Nigeria in a Chan third place play-off at Cape Town Stadium today.
It will be the curtain-raiser to the final between Ghana and Libya. The Warriors match kicks off at 5PM.
Mahachi has been one of the best players of the tournament and has won two man-of-the-match awards during the Warriors’ fairytale run.

Following the 4-5 penalty shootout heartbreak against Libya on Wednesday, Mahachi believes only a third place finish will do for the underdogs.

“We must please our fans in Cape Town, they have really supported the team and we are grateful for their support. Winning against Nigeria will be the best way to thank them. We should get third place,” he said.

Mahachi is, however, aware of the threat posed by the tournament favourites who suffered a penalty shootout defeat to bitter rivals, Ghana in Wednesday’s other semi-final at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

“It is not going to be an easy game, far from it. Nigeria believed they would win the tournament and being knocked out in the semi-final was disappointing for them. So they will obviously be all out to avenge that defeat by beating us. We are fully aware that it will be a big fight in a game that should have been the final.”

Looking back to Wednesday’s defeat, Mahachi rates the game as his worst in the tournament.
“It stands out as my worst game in the tournament. I never played to the best of my ability and even watching it on TV I see that I was not in the game. It was just a bad afternoon for me. I know I can do better than that and I promise to make amends when the next opportunity comes.

“For me my best game was actually the second (group) game against Uganda. Yes we did not score but I felt we did everything else okay and I feel I played my best,” said Mahachi.

He believes the Warriors’ success in the 2014 Chan should be used as the launch pad for the 2015 Afcon qualifying campaign.
“When we left home very few people gave us a chance. It was so bad that even the supporters never expected us to go past the first round. Now we are playing for third place. We have done well and I think we now have the motivation to do well in the qualifiers for 2015 Afcon.

“I believe if we build around this team we will make it to the finals.”
He has been a subject of so much speculation since arriving in Cape Town at the start of January but Mahachi says he has no idea where he will be going next.