Opinion / Columnist
Chidzambwa unfazed by Warriors' result
27 Jun 2019 at 07:52hrs | Views
It was supposed to be a must win for the Zimbabwe football national team the "Warriors," at the Cairo International stadium on Wednesday evening against Uganda the "Cranes," in their group stage championship encounter.
Despite having a 57 percent ball possession the Warriors failed to collect all the maximum points that could have given them a solid chance of reaching the next phase of the tournament.
Abdu Lumala's low cross was tactfully tapped into the back of the net by Emmanuel Okwi giving the Cranes an early lead in the 15th minute.
Although the Warriors responded to the ultra call in the 40th minute courtesy of a cross from Ovidy Karuru which Khama Billiat netted in, in the 40th minute there was nothing more to separate the two teams except countless missed opportunities that went away begging.
Uganda's French coach Sebastien Desabre had been previously quoted having said Zimbabwe was the weakest team in the group on social media the remarks which he refuted, "I never said that, Zimbabwe is a strong team and we respect them and we have to give all our best against them."
However, after the match Warriors gaffer Sunday Chidzambwa said that, "we played better than we did against Egypt, we created many chances and we failed to put them away, this happens in football."
Regardless, Billiat was fazed by the result, "we the strikers let the nation down we need to step up and take more responsibility."
Egypt managed to secure their place to the next round after beating the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C) by two goals to nil.
The Warriors will now need to beat D.R.C by at least three goals without having them responding and hoping that Egypt will overcome the Cranes on Sunday afternoon for them to go through to the next stage.
Otherwise if that doesn't happen Zimbabweans will now have to offer their relentless support to the netball team which qualified for the world cup in England which is starting on the 12th of July.
Despite having a 57 percent ball possession the Warriors failed to collect all the maximum points that could have given them a solid chance of reaching the next phase of the tournament.
Abdu Lumala's low cross was tactfully tapped into the back of the net by Emmanuel Okwi giving the Cranes an early lead in the 15th minute.
Although the Warriors responded to the ultra call in the 40th minute courtesy of a cross from Ovidy Karuru which Khama Billiat netted in, in the 40th minute there was nothing more to separate the two teams except countless missed opportunities that went away begging.
Uganda's French coach Sebastien Desabre had been previously quoted having said Zimbabwe was the weakest team in the group on social media the remarks which he refuted, "I never said that, Zimbabwe is a strong team and we respect them and we have to give all our best against them."
Regardless, Billiat was fazed by the result, "we the strikers let the nation down we need to step up and take more responsibility."
Egypt managed to secure their place to the next round after beating the Democratic Republic of Congo (D.R.C) by two goals to nil.
The Warriors will now need to beat D.R.C by at least three goals without having them responding and hoping that Egypt will overcome the Cranes on Sunday afternoon for them to go through to the next stage.
Otherwise if that doesn't happen Zimbabweans will now have to offer their relentless support to the netball team which qualified for the world cup in England which is starting on the 12th of July.
Source - Daniel Itai
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