Zimbabwe/Mali: Can Duduza Explode?

Petros Kausiyo

1 June 2011

THREE years after he held the nation spellbound with a breathtaking show that helped Dynamos reach the Champions League semi-finals, Zimbabwe international Edward Sadomba returns to Rufaro on Sunday eager to fire the Warriors to victory.

Zimbabwe host Mali in a 2012 African Cup of Nations Group A qualifier seeking their first win in this campaign.

And the Warriors, in third place behind Cape Verde and Mali, know they cannot afford any further slip-up.

Sadomba, now the king-pin at Sudanese giants Al Hilal will go into battle against the Eagles seeking to break his Warriors Nations Cup duck.

The 27-year-old striker, who has also seen duty at Liga Muculmana in Mozambique, insisted during the Warriors training session that although he was eager to open his Nations Cup account for his country, he would put the team first ahead of his ambitions.

Sadomba has been finding the target with regularity for Al Hilal both in the Sudanese top-flight and the African Champions League where he has so far struck three times to help his club reach the continental club tournament’s group stages.

Three years ago, Sadomba created a special bond with the Dynamos fans when he struck a Champions League brace against ASEC Mimosas while his sister lay dead at the family home in Mbare. In that same season he also helped Dynamos to a runners-up spot behind eventual Premiership champions Monomotapa.

But Sadomba acknowledged that his achievements for the clubs that he has played for could be overshadowed by failure to shine for the country. He however, reckoned that Norman Mapeza’s men could finally strike the chord against Mali on Sunday.

Mapeza’s charges have only one goal and two points to show for 270 minutes of Group A action that yielded two draws and a defeat.

The Warriors go into battle knowing that they risk being thrust in the same group of failures like the 2008 class which was under the guidance of Brazilian Valinhos which dismally fell out of the race for a place at the 2010 Nations Cup finals in Angola.

But as the Warriors continued with their preparations at the match venue yesterday, Sadomba also reiterated the plea by his captain Method Mwanjali for the fans to be patient with them as they seek to find a breakthrough past the Eagles rearguard.

“It is a great feeling to be back playing at Rufaro, I have missed Vietnam a lot and if I am picked in the team I will try to do my best for the fans and for the country. It was high time that we won and with God’s help I believe we will do it. We encourage the fans to come in numbers and we are expecting nothing short of victory. Like I said, with the help of the Lord, I also hope to score my first goal but I am not putting myself under pressure to score, the team comes first and it will not matter who scores for us what we just want is a win,” Sadomba said.

Sadomba also said he still reminisces over DeMbare’s Champions League clash against ASEC which was an emotional day for him and was hopeful the showdown against Mali could provide a platform for him to establish another special relationship with the Warriors fans.

The Warriors have also had to deal with injuries and injury scares in the build up to Sunday’s must win game. After losing the pair of midfielder Esrom Nyandoro and Noel Kaseke, the Warriors are closely monitoring the fitness levels of the striking pair of Nyasha Mushekwi and Knowledge Musona.

Mushekwi sat out Tuesday’s training because of a knock but was back in action yesterday while Kaizer Chiefs hotshot Musona was asked by the medical team to take rest after complaining of pain on his right knee.

“I have been feeling this niggling pain in my knee each time I shoot and this started while I was playing for my club.

“The doctors have suggested that I should rest a bit while they attend to it but I hope to be fine in time for the game,” said Musona.

Warriors medic Farai Muguwe said Musona was battling a “medial collateral ligament strain which just needed some rest and we are quite sure he should be back in training tomorrow or Friday.”

There are no such injury worries though for the rest of the Warriors with players like Tinashe Nengomasha, Qadr Amini, Thomas Sweswe, Zhaimu Jambo, Khama Billiat, Vusa Nyoni, Quincy Antipas, Willard Katsande, Ovidy Karuru, Justice Majabvi and Mwanjali taking part in the preparations for the big game.

The Warriors had a practice match against Premiership champions and table toppers Motor Action at the match venue yesterday afternoon, which they won 3-0.

Nengomasha, a veteran of many Nations Cup battles and one only two players, together with goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini, to have taken part in the Warriors’ two previous appearances at the tournament said they were also trying to use their experience to assist their younger teammates in the side.

The Kaizer Chiefs vice-captain challenged the Warriors “to believe in themselves” in order for them to overcome the West Africans.

“We should not look at who Mali have in their squad because we also have the talent.

“The coach has asked us as senior players to help the youngsters in the team to settle but the good thing is that they have been competing and doing well at their clubs and I think they can carry on with the same form.

“It’s a big game for us because we need to win. The preparations have been going on well and when you have youngsters like Musona who picked up accolades in South Africa you feel they also need to be rewarded by doing well for their national team and helping their country.

“I really believe in the players we have and my message to the guys has been that we have to believe in ourselves and the nation also has to believe in us.

“If we go into the game with a united belief and if we believe that Zimbabwe is good enough to upset any team and we have the right mentality then we will win, even by hook or crook.

“I know that the crowd will be behind us at Rufaro and it feels good to be back at the stadium and I have this feeling that once we get our first win, we could go on and beat Liberia here too and get a result in Cape Verde,” Nengomasha said.

But for all their optimism, both speed merchant Sadomba and the man they call the “General” at Chiefs, Nengomasha, would have to clear the Eagles hurdle for the Warriors to keep alive their interests in a place for the Nations Cup finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

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