Sports / Soccer
We still need Musona
09 Jul 2012 at 06:09hrs | Views
FORMER Warriors striker Adam Ndlovu has urged striker Knowledge Musona to reconsider his decision to quit the Warriors and help the nation qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in South Africa.
Zimbabwe were drawn against Angola in the last qualifying round of the competition that will see them playing at home, first on September 9 before travelling to Luanda for the return leg in October for a place at next January's finals.
Ndlovu, a veteran of many battles in Warriors colours, banging in 34 goals in the process, said Musona should realise that this was the time the nation needed him most. Musona quit the Warriors after being accused by Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze of deliberately under-performing in two World Cup qualifiers last month.
However, Ndlovu said the final 2013 Africa Cup of Nations draw against Angola should provide Musona the chance to silence his critics.
"The 2013 Africa Cup qualifying match against Angola is going to be very tough for us and we will need all our best players. The disadvantage we have is that of playing at home first. That means we have to utilise every chance that we get."
Angola are ranked number 21 on the continent and 86 in the world compared to Zimbabwe's 26 in Africa and 100 in the world. Zimbabwe last played Angola in 2006 in a Cosafa Cup match semi-final in which the Warriors lost 2-1. The previous year, Zimbabwe had beaten Angola 2-1 in their own backyard in the semi-finals of the same competiton. In 2005, Zimbabwe beat 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier at the National Sports Stadium.
The Angolans have qualified for the World Cup once in 2006 and have been at the Africa Cup of Nations finals six times. They have been a permanent feature at the tournament since 2006 with their highest finish being the quarterfinals in 2008 and 2010.
The Angolans have not managed a win in their last three games where they managed a 0-0 draw in Liberia after allowing Uganda to come back from behind to force a draw in Luanda. Macedonia also held them to a 0-0 in an international friendly match in Portugal.
Zimbabwe were drawn against Angola in the last qualifying round of the competition that will see them playing at home, first on September 9 before travelling to Luanda for the return leg in October for a place at next January's finals.
Ndlovu, a veteran of many battles in Warriors colours, banging in 34 goals in the process, said Musona should realise that this was the time the nation needed him most. Musona quit the Warriors after being accused by Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) CEO Jonathan Mashingaidze of deliberately under-performing in two World Cup qualifiers last month.
However, Ndlovu said the final 2013 Africa Cup of Nations draw against Angola should provide Musona the chance to silence his critics.
"The 2013 Africa Cup qualifying match against Angola is going to be very tough for us and we will need all our best players. The disadvantage we have is that of playing at home first. That means we have to utilise every chance that we get."
Angola are ranked number 21 on the continent and 86 in the world compared to Zimbabwe's 26 in Africa and 100 in the world. Zimbabwe last played Angola in 2006 in a Cosafa Cup match semi-final in which the Warriors lost 2-1. The previous year, Zimbabwe had beaten Angola 2-1 in their own backyard in the semi-finals of the same competiton. In 2005, Zimbabwe beat 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier at the National Sports Stadium.
The Angolans have qualified for the World Cup once in 2006 and have been at the Africa Cup of Nations finals six times. They have been a permanent feature at the tournament since 2006 with their highest finish being the quarterfinals in 2008 and 2010.
The Angolans have not managed a win in their last three games where they managed a 0-0 draw in Liberia after allowing Uganda to come back from behind to force a draw in Luanda. Macedonia also held them to a 0-0 in an international friendly match in Portugal.
Source - standard
