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Tadious Manyepo

Sports Reporter

HE provides the family link to the architect of the Warriors’ comprehensive 4-1 destruction of Bafana Bafana, in a ’94 AFCON qualifier, 19 years ago.

On August 16, 1992, Zimbabwe turned on the style as they demolished South Africa, teaching their neighbours a tough lesson, about the challenges of international football.

A brace from Peter Ndlovu, including one of the best goals the Warriors have scored in their history, and further goals from Vitalis Takawira and Rahman Gumbo, powered the hosts to a great victory.

For Jonah Fabisch, this was one of his father’s finest hours, as coach of the Dream Team, during the ’94 AFCON and World Cup qualifiers.

The 20-year-old Hamburger SV II midfielder, who has chosen to represent his mother’s country, has finally answered the call to join the Warriors.

The Warriors host Bafana Bafana, at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow, before they travel to face Ethiopia, next week.

“I don’t want to lie, I feel very much at home, given the warm welcome I have received, from my teammates,” he said.

“Last time, l couldn’t come because of Covid-19 regulations in South Africa, so my club didn’t want me to go.

“They said that they couldn’t guarantee flights back so, my club said no.

“But, I’m happy to be here.’’

Fabisch was last included in the squad, for this year’s COSAFA Cup, in South Africa, two months ago.

However, he could not join his teammates on national duty.

He has been impressed by the camaraderie in camp.

“The atmosphere in camp is very good, fun, I saw that the players know each other very well,’’ he said.

“They have a good connection and I just want to try to fit in and have a place here.”

He said he has a sentimental attachment to Zimbabwe because of his father’s work with the Dream Team.

“It makes it more special to play here because my father was a coach here for the national team,’’ said Fabisch.

“And, because he coached here, that is how he met my mother so, I definitely have a huge connection to Zimbabwe.

“Most of my family is from here and I have lots of family members that I know would probably be following me and the team.

“So, yeah, I’m basically connected, through my father and my mother to the country.

“My father was a coach here, so it’s definitely a bigger connection because of football.”

The midfielder knows he has to prove he can play, at a level expected by the coaches, if he is to earn some minutes in the team.

“Of course, my target is to earn my place here,’’ said Fabisch.

“That’s certainly the main target because you always have to show that you are good enough, especially me, as a young player.

“I have to give 100 percent in training and, yeah, as a team, the goal is to eventually qualify for the World Cup, and win the next matches.

“We know it is not going to be smooth sailing, against both South Africa and Ethiopia, but we have to push very hard to get the results that we all want to see.

“We are definitely going to play our best game and make sure the fans smile.”