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Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
WARRIORS coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa has been impressed by the new players on board and revealed he now has a clearer picture of the kind of side he can assemble for Zimbabwe’s African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The Warriors are in Ndola for a Four-Nation Invitational tournament involving fellow Southern African giants Angola, South Africa and hosts Zambia.

The Warriors will face Angola in a third-place play-off that will precede the final pitting Zamia’s Chipolopolo and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

Chidzambwa’s men could have been featuring in the final against Bafana Bafana today, but somehow they blinked in the last minute and let slip a 2-1 lead before bowing out 5-4 on penalties.

The veteran coach, speaking from Kitwe where the Warriors are based, said he was not reading much into the results of the tourney.

“I am not particularly worried about the result. It was more about the assessment of the players especially the new guys,” he said.

“Of course, we conceded two goals from set pieces which could have been avoided, but there was loss of concentration, first from a corner and second from a free-kick.
“We had chances to clear the ball on both occasions, but like I said there was loss of concentration.”

It was the overall performance of the team, who led twice through an own goal by Zambian defender Isaac Shamujompa and a 73rd minute strike by substitute Talent Chawapiwa, that seems to have charmed Chidzambwa.

“I was impressed by some of the guys who were playing for the first time and those I had not had a chance to closely look at, especially Mudimu (Alec) who was playing at centre-back and Chicksen (Adam) who is a good left back.

“I was also happy with Marshall Munetsi, the Pirates midfielder, he is a very good anchorman, plays basic football and is very good at marking and Teenage Hadebe has vastly improved too.

“I had been particularly worried about our centre back area, but Teenage and Mudimu did very well and I think our problems in that department may have been solved now,” Chidzambwa said.

He believes the Warriors just now need more time together in order for them to gel into a unit.
“We didn’t create many chances, but we looked dangerous each time we went forward. Until we brought Talent and Abbas we didn’t have that cutting edge, but we can always get stronger when the likes of Knowledge and Khama come in.

“We also didn’t get a chance to train with the Europe-based guys because they came in late on Tuesday night and it rained on Wednesday morning so they just headed straight into the game without having trained and if you look at the way they played, then it is a sign that if we play our cards right we can only get better.”

Chidzambwa said the tournament had been vital for a team like the Warriors who rarely get international friendly assignments on FIFA dates.

“This tournament has helped us a lot. There are some guys who are in Europe whom I had not closely assessed and we had totally new guys, but now I have a better picture and I think if we can use some of these guys during the COSAFA tournament again then we will be fine by the time the AFCON qualifiers resume in September,” Chidzambwa said.

The Warriors coach said he will also rotate his squad and hand starts to those who sat on the bench against Chipolopolo
“We travelled with 16 infield players and three goalkeepers so we will give everyone a chance to play so those who were on the bench against Zambia will definitely start.

“I didn’t get to see much of Angola here because during their game that is when we were travelling from our hotel in Kitwe to the stadium in Ndola, but we are expecting another good game and having managed to train on Thursday and today I think we will be much better,” Chidzambwa said.

Big goalkeeper Edmore Sibanda, ZPC Kariba’s Takabva Mawaya, Divine Lunga, newboy Butholezwe Ncube of South African Premiership side Amazulu, Praise Tonha, Abbas Amidu and Chawapiwa were the players who started on the bench against Chipolopolo and now set to face the Palancas Negras.