By Jafferson Ndhlovu,
Sunday Chidzambwa who is on the hattrick for Cosafa titles is cautious in the match against Zambia. And is non commital of the expectations on facing neighbours Zambia.
Zimbabwe takes on longtime northern crossborder nemeses Zambia in the final of 2017 Cosafa tournament this afternoon in South Africa.
Chidzambwa is arguably the most successful Zimbabwean coach ever both at national and club levels. Affectionately called Mhofu by a legion of adoring fans across the Zimbabwean football divide, he has two Cosafa titles under his belt and he is first coach have qualified Zimbabwe to their first ever participation at the AFCON since the country got from the shackles of British and finally Ian Smith’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence of Rhodesia.
At club level he guided Zimbabwe club football giants to a Caf Champions league final. A feat that has never been replicated. Therefore the man may know one or two things on how outmanoeuvre his Zambian counterpart in Wedson “Wada Wada” Nyirenda with his high scoring Warriors Boys.
But the man knows just too well what threat the 2012 Afcon champions Chipolopolo Boys pose to curtail his rather moderate ambitions to ratch up his third Cosafa titles.
‘I am very confident considering where we have come from but what I know is that we are not playing an easy team. They are very good, they play very well and they play as a team.
‘They have good players so its not going to be an easy match and we have to dig in to produce a positive result for the nation.
‘Our supporters must pray for us and we will try and fight hard to get a positive result,’ Chidzambwa told ZIFA’s official website.
On the other side his striking duo Knox Mutizwa the semi final hat trick hero and Talent Chawapiwa who has a goal that is in contention for tournament accolade are oozing with confidence and raring to go.
Mutizwa was substitute inclusion in the quarter final against Swaziland by scoring a winner and that bought him ticket to start in the semi final against Lesotho.
‘I came in as a substitute and scored the winner against Swaziland and the coaches put their trust in me and gave me a starting place in the next match and I scored a hattrick, so am confident we can win the cup,’ Mutizwa said.
‘They (Zambia) are just like us, they like to attack and they are one of the best teams in Africa right now.
‘But we are the team with the momentum right now and we are beginning to gel and we are the team to beat. We are more than confident,’ Chawapiwa said.
Both Warriors and Chipolopol have four title and are relishing the chance to go one up. The last time these met was in 2013 edition. Zambia beat Zimbabwe 2nil in Ndola. In total they have met four times in Cosafa title winning matches. Twice in Zimbabwe and once in South Africa.
