The Return of the Warriors

By Edwin Msipa

Qatar 1 – 1
Zimbabwe 1 – 2

The Zimbabwe Football National Team is back. They did put aside the previous game’s woes when the new coach Maricana Mario was accused of racially abusing players.

They showed character by overcoming an early 9th minute thunderous  goal by Khalid Mohamed.  A drawn out Elvis Chipezeze who was about a metre and half or two from his goal line dived but it was a case of speed and space.

A glancing header by Munashe Garan’anga, in a packed final goal area,  levelled terms in the 23rd minute.

First, Goalkeeper Chipezeze twice blocked goal bound efforts in the early minutes then against the run of play by the experienced number 11, Khalid Mohamed found the mark against the run of play.

The Warriors reply was a befitting one with a flight from the corner by Godknows Murwira meeting the alert Munashe Garan’anga whose brilliant head came to the goalie’s line like a flash flood. Even though Meshaal Bersham, the Qatar goalminder dived to the right side, he was a shade slower as the goal found its mark in the right top upright of his goal. The goal was met with a happy reaction by a sizeable number of supporters who were routing behind the Warriors.

And from the tightest of corners Bill Antonio paid his bill with an exciting Stanley Chirambadare goal-style. It deceived the number 21 Qatar substitute goal-minder, Mahmoud Abunada. He punched it once and tried once more when it had already crossed the border. Zimbabwe responded with a dance near the corner flag. The damage had been done. The boys had remembered home since October 2024.

In the 92nd minute, the impressive Emmanuel Jalai, from outside the danger zone, almost treble the lead only for the goalie to parry it over the bar.

Before the match, Coach Maricana had said, ”First of all, we want to play a little bit more forward. We want to hold the ball as much as possible, but with the purpose of going forward and trying to make it when you have the chance, to take the opportunity, to take more shots, to create more scoring opportunities, and obviously to score goals:” Warriors coach Marian Marinica.