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Innocent Kurira, Sports Reporter
COULD the Warriors be going into their World Cup qualifier against South Africa as the favourites next week?
Zimbabwe are set to play Bafana Bafana on September 3.

Two South African legends have already hinted that the Warriors may be in a better position to come out tops.

Bafana Bafana legend Shaun Bartlett last week warned his son’s senior national team not to underestimate the Warriors ahead of their upcoming World Cup qualifier clash next week.

At the same time, former Bafana captain Lucas Radebe revealed his respect for Zimbabwe by tipping the Warriors to do well at the tournament next year at the Africa Cup of Nations draw in Cameroon.

The Warriors have momentum on their side qualifying for the Afcon finals with a game to spare.

Bafana went through a horrible campaign that saw them failing to qualify for the Afcon finals.

As a result, they fired Molefi Ntseki as Bafana head coach.

New coach Hugo Broos has not held a single training session with his side and will need a miracle to get his team playing in the manner he desires in the short space of time available.

Although qualifying for next year’s World Cup is not part of his mandate, Broos says he will do everything possible to see Bafana qualifying for the global football showpiece. Zimbabwe should be in a better position going into next week’s clash based on previous form.

Could the 2000 stampede at the National Sports Stadium that left 13 Warriors’ fans dead and hundreds injured disaster spur the Warriors?

The disaster unfolded during a 2002 World Cup qualifier between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The scars inflicted by the biggest sporting disaster in this country have not yet healed. Surely a look back at the disaster should be enough motivation to give it their best on the field of play.

Perhaps a Warriors’ victory could help the country recover from its worst stadium disaster.

The Warriors should have key players such as Marvelous Nakamba, Tendayi Darikwa, Marshal Munetsi and Tinotenda Kadewere, who missed the last two Afcon qualifiers, while Khama Billiat has also recovered from injury and should be available for next week’s World Cup qualifier.

Zimbabwe had played without their England and France-based stars in their last two Afcon qualifiers after foreign clubs refused to release players over Covid-19 restrictions.

Then Fifa had given clubs the power to withhold players called up for national duty if they had to go into quarantine on their return.

This has, however, changed, as Fifa declared that clubs can no longer prevent players from reporting for international duty even if quarantine is required upon return. There is no doubt that the majority of players that will make the Warriors’ squad are based in South Africa.

In as much as this may work to both teams’ advantage, the Warriors are likely to use this to their advantage, as they play against their opponents in the South African league next week.