Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter

Harare City………………………………….. 0

CAPS Utd…………………………………. (1) 1

CAPS United coach Darlington Dodo says the Green Machine are in safe hands under his watch and boldly declared they can afford to dream big this season.

The Harare giants claimed an important win over Harare City to shoot to the top of the Castle Lager Premiership table.

Newman Sianchali handed them victory with a powerful strike six minutes into the game as Makepekepe moved one point clear of ZPC Kariba on the standings.

Dodo was over the moon after getting one over his former boss, Lloyd Chitembwe, who crossed the floor last month to join the Sunshine Boys.

Makepekepe have now amassed 41 points after 23 games.

“It was a good win, it gives everybody within the institution some confidence going forward. I am very happy, especially for these boys,’’ said Dodo.

“If you look at their conduct, their attitude and the desire. It was superb . . . I think I have said it before. The championship is not something that we started talking about today.

‘‘It’s something that we planned with my colleagues.

“I was part of the technical team and they were part of us as well. We planned it at the beginning of the season. We sat down with the players and set targets at the beginning of the season.

“So, basically, where we are today is not a surprise to us but it’s somewhere we wanted to be and we will put a lot of effort to make sure that we achieve what we planned at the beginning of the season.’’

CAPS United raced into the lead early and did well top protect their solitary goal.

Harare City’s appeals for a penalty were waved away five minutes into the game after speedy forward Martin Vengesai smashed into goalkeeper Prosper Chigumba in the chase for a loose ball.

From there, Makepekepe launched a counter-attack with a long ball from Joel Ngodzo.

Sianchali controlled well down the pitch, beating his marker in the process. The veteran forward then unleashed a thunderbolt that nestled into the top corner. Harare City responded by probing the Green Machine goal and Chigumba produced made a good reflex save to deny William Manondo from a header.

But it was CAPS who almost doubled their lead, midway in the first half, when Clive Rupiya was involved in a quick exchange with John Zhuwawu and then fired a low shot towards goal.

But the goalkeeper made a strong save.

Harare City had better opportunities after the break and their best moment fell to Tatenda Tumba soon after the restart but the diminutive midfielder sent his booming shot wildly over the bar.

Chigumba then produced another fine save, with 10 minutes of regulation remaining, after William Manondo had headed goalwards from a free kick by Tumba.

“What we knew is we were going to play more or less the same after being with my colleagues who are now at Harare City,” said Dodo.

Chitembwe said his charges failed to handle the pressure involved in the game.

“I thought our first half was not very good and the reason is that maybe we were slightly overawed by the occasion,’’ he said.

“It’s the nature of the game. You know when the situation, especially off-pitch events, if they appear to be bigger, it becomes very difficult to manage some of these things.

“I think that was the major undoing for us in the first half but in the second half we did manage to regroup and it was a decent performance and I thought we also created some decent chances.

‘‘Mistakes in the second half were very minimal. I thought in the first half, our midfield was not very mobile, as we would have wanted it to be, and I think that was the major difference in today’s game.

‘‘They got their chance and they scored. We had our chances and we could not convert those into goals.’’

Teams

Harare City: M. Nyamupangedengu, T. Chimwemwe, M Diro-Nyenye, H. Chapusha, R. Uchena, T. Tavengwa, W. Mukanga (P. Moyo, 46th min), T. Tumba, J. Chipangura, W. Manondo, M. Vengesai

CAPS Utd: P. Chigumba, H. Zvirekwi, V. Musarurwa, M. Mwanjale, D. Mukandi, G. Goriyati, P. Bhamusi, J. Ngodzo, C. Rupiya, N. Sianchali (K. Nyamupfukudza, 82nd min), J. Zhuwawu (D. Chungwa, 46th min)

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LONDON. — Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hit out at the penalty decision that he felt cost his side badly in Tuesday night’s defeat against Napoli.

Klopp questioned the awarding of a penalty to Napoli which he felt proved decisive as Liverpool started the defence of their Champions League football crown with a 2-0 defeat in southern Italy.

The Reds lacked a cutting edge but would have been worthy of a point at the intimidating Stadio San Paolo, only for the Group E opener to hinge on Jose Callejon being upended in the area by Andy Robertson.

Dries Mertens converted from the spot in the 82nd minute before Virgil Van Dijk lost the ball on the edge of the area in stoppage time, allowing former Tottenham striker Fernando Llorente to seal a 2-0 win for Napoli.

Klopp was not critical of his players after the game, believing they put in a good performance and preferred to point at the penalty decision, which he felt robbed his side of a point.

“When we conceded to go 1-0 down that was the game-changer. We have to accept the result,” Klopp said.

“We are really critical of ourselves, but it was not a really, really bad performance, it was a game which we could have won at Napoli, but we didn’t because we didn’t score. We wanted to have at least a point and we didn’t get that because of the penalty. I’m pretty sure there are different views on that situation but when a player jumps before there is contact then it cannot be a penalty.

“But we cannot change that anymore so that’s how it is and now we carry on, that’s it.”

Liverpool were beaten in every game away from Anfield in the competition last season and still managed to get through the group. — AFP.

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LONDON. — England cricket chiefs on Tuesday rallied round star all-rounder Ben Stokes after he criticised a British newspaper report about a family tragedy more than 30 years ago.

The Sun reported that Stokes has been living with a secret family tragedy — his half-brother and sister were shot dead.

His mum Deb’s two children Tracey, eight, and Andrew, four, were killed by her ex Richard Dunn in 1988 before Ben’s birth.

Cricket ace Ben’s birth gave his grief-stricken mum Deb “something to live for” after her jealous ex killed their two children, a family source revealed.

The England star has never spoken publicly about the murder of Tracey and Andrew by their dad Richard Dunn.

He and Deb had furious rows after they split and he discovered she had taken up with rugby coach Gerard Stokes.

Dunn had weekend custody of the children and shot them both dead before turning the gun on himself in April 1988.

And Tom Harrison, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), said he was “disgusted and appalled” by the front-page story in The Sun tabloid on Tuesday.

Stokes, who helped England win the World Cup this year and played a starring role in the just-completed drawn Ashes series against Australia, has called the report “utterly disgusting” and said it touched on “deeply personal and traumatic events” involving the deaths of members of his New Zealand-based family more than 30 years ago.

Stokes (28) was born in New Zealand but moved to England as a boy.

In an ECB statement, Harrison said: “We, like the wider sporting world, are disgusted and appalled at the actions taken in revealing the tragic events from Ben’s past. — AFP.

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DHAKA. — With their backs up against the wall, Bangladesh cruised to a 39-run win over Zimbabwe in a sweltering Chattogram to book their place in next week’s tri-series final.

Put in to bat by Zimbabwe, Bangladesh’s 175 for 7 was built around a 78-run fourth-wicket stand between Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur Rahim.

While Zimbabwe did well to hold Bangladesh back when they had been poised to score many more, they showed no such application with the bat in their chase.

Brendan Taylor fell for a duck in the very first over, Zimbabwe stumbled through the Powerplay, and an eighth-wicket partnership of 58 between Richmond Mutumbami and Kyle Jarvis was their only combination of any substance as Bangladesh took full control.

Score

Bangladesh 175 for 7 beat Zimbabwe 136 by 39 runs —cricinfo.

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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter

GLOW Petroleum coach Perpetua Siyachitema says their campaign in the Rainbow Amateur Netball League this season has not been one of their best.

They are battling to find the touch that saw them finishing second last year.

The Kwekwe-based team are currently seventh on the table with 29 points from 21 matches. They have won 14 matches, lost six and drawn one.

“I can say this year Glow hasn’t been playing well. I am not really sure if it was because of my absence.

“I think I motivate the players, my presence has great impact on the team. When I wasn’t around, there were a lot of defeats even to teams I didn’t expect to beat us.

“Maybe my absence also contributed because before I went to the World Cup I managed to attend just one game against ZDF. “The other problem is I don’t have many players, those that are available are injured. My other two shooters are injured, so I only have two that are playing currently,’’ said Siyachitema.

She said it’s unfortunate she could not adequately beef up her team during the transfer window.

“We have also a 17-year-old Thandekile Mahlangu, a mid-court player. She is from Bulawayo. It’s unfortunate I could not get players during the transfer window.

“I am just trying to maintain what’s there. I am trying to introduce young players. We also have 18-year-old Margret Mpofu, who is a defender. “I am going to use a new strategy, looking for young and energetic players.’’

Glow Petroleum are likely to take on Tenax this weekend.

In a match played yesterday, Ngezi Platinum continued with their winning streak when they beat Black Rhinos lost 49-46 in a closely-contested battle.

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Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor

FITTINGLY, it was the defining moment of this feisty old boys’ club showdown at Rufaro yesterday pregnant with many sub-plots.

Anything else would have been an injustice to such beauty, the baggage that would have diluted its purity, tainted its majesty and eroded its value.

It’s a pity the television cameras where not there to capture it and store it in the vault where this league’s golden moments are preserved.

Because, it’s such moments of magic, which are now few and far between in the domestic Premiership, which must be replayed, again and again, to show there is still a spark of life in this league.

To possibly convince those, who have turned their backs on the league, because of its choking mediocrity and the absence of genuine stars to illuminate it, to entertain the idea of coming back to the stadiums.

And, to show that those who still provide it with its regular patronage are not mad people, seduced only by their faith and blinded by their love for their teams, but – now and again – they bear witness to some magical moments.

What a goal!

One that fully deserved to be the one that powered CAPS United back to the top of the Castle Lager Premiership.

The one that helped the Green Machine ‘‘punish’’ Harare City for poaching their entire coaching crew and the one that transformed Rufaro into a cathedral of songs.

A goal that settled this contest, long on sub-plots but generally short on genuine quality, where CAPS United dominated the first half and then spent large parts of the second period in defence mode as their opponents, after the introduction of the lively Peter ‘‘Rio’’ Moyo, took control of midfield.

And, sadly for some, it came after just six minutes, which meant a number of those who ended up inside Rufaro yesterday, probably missed it.

The cross field pass from deep inside the CAPS defence was speculative, at best, but it cut open the Harare City defence and created a small window of opportunity for the Green Machine.

Newman Sianchali, a 32-year-old veteran who has played for Bantu Rovers, Hwange, Bulawayo City and Highlanders, raced to meet it, his expert touch bringing the ball down, while on the charge.

And, without breaking stride, combining both power and precision, he produced a sweet and powerful volley, from distance, with the ball moving in the air and finding its mark in the top corner of the Harare City goal.

It’s very unlikely the domestic Premiership will witness a better goal this year.

This, to a large extent, could also have been the afternoon when caretaker coach, Darlington Dodo, whose promotion to lead the club in the wake of Lloyd Chitembwe’s departure has been a hugely divisive issue at the Green Machine, finally won over some of his fierce critics.

Because, for the first time since he took over the hot seat last month, receiving a baptism of fire in his first game at Ascot where his charges crashed to a 2-4 defeat at the hands of Chapungu, the Green Machine managed a clean sheet in the four league matches he has been the leader.

After conceding eight goals in their last three league matches, including three in their last drawn game against Bulawayo Chiefs, a clean sheet against this battling Harare City yesterday was a huge step forward for Dodo and his players.

Of course, most of the credit for that should go to goalkeeper Prosper Chigumba who, twice in either half, produced excellent reflexes to save free headers, one kept out on the ground in the first half, and the other touched over the bar in the second, on a day his defenders looked vulnerable to high balls swung into their area.

The ageless Method Mwanjali had another fine afternoon, in what is turning out to be a very good season for the veteran, while the skipper, Hardlife Zvirekwi, was probably the best player on display with a composed performance down the right side of his team’s defensive and offensive channel.

The emerging talents of the elusive Tatenda Tumba, the diminutive Harare City winger who kept running rings around the CAPS United defenders, and the impressive 19-year-old Clive Rupiya, who enhanced his growing reputation with another good show for the Green Machine in attack, provided the promise for the future.

Chitembwe, in his first battle against the club where he built his name both as a player and a coach, was given a warm reception by the Green Machine fans just before the match.

After emerging from his technical bench to salute the supporters, for whom he provided three league titles as a player and one as a coach, Chitembwe was given a standing ovation from those sitting on the City End of the stadium which house the CAPS United fans. It became very clear that, despite all the drama created by his sudden departure from the Green Machine, the relationship between the fans, and this legend of their club, remains very strong.

There was another coach in the stadium, Italian gaffer Roberto Landi, who watched the match in the company of CAPS United president Farai Jere.

Landi, who has been in Harare since last Monday, has agreed terms to become the head of technical at the Green Machine, pending the conclusion of the process of him getting a work permit, and the former Liberia national team coach closely followed the drama on the field.

Now, and again, he showed his frustration, when the CAPS United midfielders just pumped the ball forward, rather than playing it on the ground in search of a teammate, and he became more animated when Harare City seized control of the midfield in the second half.

But, the main storyline from yesterday’s game has to be, and will always be, that wonder goal – what a strike, what a beauty, what a decider!

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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter

SEASONED Chapungu gaffer Rodwell Dhlakama has emerged the firm favourite among the shortlist of coaches being targeted by Premiership outfit Ngezi Platinum.

The former Zimbabwe Young Warriors coach, who has guided Chapungu in a decent campaign despite working with limited resources, is understood to be headlining the names Ngezi have earmarked to replace the sacked Erol Akbay.

The Dutchman was relieved of his duties on Tuesday together with his assistant coach Tendai Chikuni.

The other assistant, Cosmas “Tsano” Zulu, who is the goalkeepers’ coach, survived the chop.

The Premier League is on break this weekend to make way for the African Nations Championship match between Zimbabwe and Lesotho.

Ngezi Platinum will resume action next weekend with a Chibuku Super Cup assignment against Mushowani Stars at Baobab.

And, the Mhondoro club will be hoping that, by then, the new coach would have, at least, worked with the team for a week.

Yesterday club chairman Jeremiah Gasiteni said they were looking for a caretaker coach who can guide the team until end of the season.

After that, he said, they will appoint a substantive gaffer.

“We are still looking for a caretaker coach and we hope to finalise by Friday so, by Monday, we should be announcing the new coach,” he said.

Sources said they have settled for Dhlakama until the season ends.

However, the Chapungu mentor will first have to be cleared by the Air Force of Zmbabwe. The sources said the club were still interested in the services of high-profile coaches — former Warriors gaffers Callisto Pasuwa and Norman Mapeza.

Pasuwa and Mapeza will only be available at the end of the year.

The Mhondoro side have always wanted to rope in Pasuwa to head their technical bench and he was expected to join the team last season after Tonderai Ndiraya’s unceremonious departure.

Dhlakama is the most successful Young Warriors coach having won titles with both the Under-17 and Under-20 sides.

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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter

ALL is set for the second edition of a fundraising match featuring former footballers against inmates at Gwanzura on Saturday.

The initiative by the former players, who are now called the Ambassadors, and the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, is aimed to raise funds for the upcoming Prisons Day which is commemorated on October 5 every year.

The former national team players behind the fund-raising initiative include Justice Majabvi, Dickson Choto, Tinashe Nengomasha, David Sengu and Devine Sena.

They visited Harare Central Prison yesterday where they interacted with inmates.

“We are very grateful to be partnering ZPCS,’’ said Choto.

“We believe it’s for a good cause as we all have relatives who were once incarcerated and there is need to support the inmates as they undergo their rehabilitation.

“We call on all Zimbabweans to come in their numbers and support us.

“We expect a tough encounter against the inmates who managed to hold us to a three-all draw last year.

“This year we will not take them lightly.’’

Inmates team captain Samson Shumbayaremba, who is left with 11 months of his initial eight-year sentence, said they will put up their best show.

“We have been preparing for a while for this match and we are going to give the former players a good run.

“There is more to play for considering that we will have had a practice session at Yadah Complex before the main match at Gwanzura,” said Shumbayaremba.

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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA president Felton Kamambo insists he remains the right man to take Zimbabwean football forward and the fierce criticism he has received will only transform him into a better leader of the game. He has appealed to the domestic football community not to judge him basing on the first nine months of his term, but on what he will deliver in the four years he will be in charge.

Kamambo conceded it wasn’t the kind of start he wanted and it was unfortunate that, under his leadership, the game has been choked by negativity.

The ZIFA board, which came into power in December last year, has been rocked by waves of turbulence, including a brush with the Sports and Recreation Commission and suspension of funds from the world governing body FIFA.

ZIFA’s administrative shortcomings were also cruelly exposed at the AFCON finals in Egypt while the Mighty Warriors decision to boycott their Olympic qualifier also haunted the association.

Kamambo yesterday admitted the game was not in a healthy state and has called for an all-stakeholders meeting, to be held in the coming weeks, to resolve the problems stalking Zimbabwean football.

The ZIFA boss said there was a lot of negativity within the football fraternity and declared people should judge him, starting from yesterday, after announcing a development blue-print.

He believes this will improve the quality of the game from the grassroots.

“We had our own challenges, particularly after our participation at AFCON,’’ said Kamambo.

‘‘A lot of negativity came out, particularly on social media, to the extent that our funding from FIFA was temporarily suspended.

“Auditors from FIFA came here to verify whatever was coming from social media.

‘‘The funding has resumed now but that affected us. Probably, we could have launched the equipment we bought for football development long back.’’

Addressing journalists yesterday, Kamambo, who was flanked by his board members Sugar Chagonda, Farai Jere and Philemon Machana, said they have put up plans to bring all the stakeholders under one roof to discuss the problems and forge the way forward.

“We are going to invite all football stakeholders. The invitations will come in the next two weeks. We want to make sure that everyone who loves soccer, and is prepared to help take our football to greater heights, must attend and share with us their expectations.

‘‘Where we are getting it wrong, where we are getting it right and where we need to improve.

“So, we are inviting everyone, including our critics. We also want them to come so that we talk football as a football family.

‘‘We don’t want them to criticise while they are out there. We want to have a round table because it’s good for our football.”

The ZIFA board has been under pressure to turn things around after they were voted into office last year in a highly-polarised election.

But things have not been going the way many people had expected.

“I’m sure when we were ushered into the office on December 16 last year, we came up with some targets of things that we wanted to do,’’ said Kamambo.

“I think, from the time that we got into office, we were busy identifying gaps. Among those gaps that we identified were some immediate gaps and long-term projects.

‘‘I am sure one of the targets was to move back to this office (53 Livingstone Avenue) which we did in a short space of time.

“Then our national teams had no kit sponsor and we pursued that and managed to get a sponsor.

‘‘The other target was to qualify for AFCON because we were left with one game and wanted to make sure that as a new board we win that game and qualify for AFCON finals and that we did.

“We have achieved some of the things. The plan we have for the liquidation of the legacy debt is partly an achievement.

‘‘But this alone does not take our football to greater heights. We can only take our football to greater heights when we have the stadiums and the youth leagues that will feed into our national teams.’’

The Harare business executive said ZIFA have ambitious long-term plans to build infrastructure, including stadiums, a hotel to accommodate national teams, a high-performance centre in Harare and offices in the Eastern and Central regions with the help of FIFA.

They also intend to set up a sports equipment manufacturing company to cut the import bills on sourcing such equipment.

“We applied for these projects to FIFA and they have granted us these projects,’’ said Kamambo.

‘‘What we did was that we had to engage FIFA because if ever we are going to do these projects there is this animal called legacy debt which is always hovering on top of us.

“If we are to start any project, it will come and garnish the money and we are back to square one.

‘‘So, we asked FIFA so that they can assist, using our project money, to liquidate this legacy debt.

“We had about four meetings and we agreed and came up with the strategies to liquidate the legacy debt.

‘‘FIFA were here last week on fact-finding mission and we agreed on the way forward. We just hope that within the next five months, the legacy debt will be a thing of the past.

“We had actually started paying as a board but the amount involved was too much. I am sure every day you hear stories that our accounts have been garnished and we have been taken to court.

‘‘We all want to see that coming to an end so that we concentrate on the development of football.’’

The ZIFA leaders were also united in their explanation yesterday that reports funds from FIFA, or other public entities, had been abused, were not true.

They defended their decision to move more than US$700 000 into a bank account of one of the board members saying this was agreed by the board to protect the funds and none of the money was abused.

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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
ZIFA yesterday unveiled football equipment worth thousands of dollars to kickstart an ambitious development programme that will see women and junior football leagues sprouting all over the country from next year.

The association’s president, Felton Kamambo, yesterday said they used part of their development funds from FIFA to purchase football gear that includes training and playing kits, balls, bibs, cones, trophies, magnetic clipboards, gloves and medals.

The material is set to benefit all levels, from the established Premier Soccer League, Women’s Super League, lower divisions, beach soccer, youth football for both boys and girls, beach soccer and Futsal.

Kamambo yesterday said the face of domestic football will never be the same again once the projects start as they will provide reliable feeder schemes to the senior national teams in the next four years.

They will start with the Under-15 football leagues in the country’s provinces and regions next year.

ZIFA are borrowing from successful development models that have been applied by neighbouring countries, South Africa and Zambia, in the last few years.

Kamambo told reporters yesterday the initiatives are part of the recommendations they got after a tour of South Africa by the ZIFA board earlier this year.

“There have been concerns that we were lagging behind in as far as development is concerned,’’ said Kamambo.

‘‘On our targets, we also had the long-term, and one of them was to make sure that there is a structured youth football in Zimbabwe. We wanted to make sure that there is structured beach soccer played throughout the country, Futsal and women.

“I am sure you know that in terms of women football we only have the teams playing in the Super League. There was no football being played in the bulk of the areas in provinces.

“When we had our AGM we promised to buy some equipment and today the equipment is here. Like we said, each and every club will benefit, starting from the PSL, Division One, Division Two, women, youth, Futsal and Beach Football.’’

Kamambo said this was a game-changer for their programmes. “We are now going to have structured youth leagues in all the provinces,’’ he said.

‘‘For starters, we are going to have 10 clubs per province. We are going to launch these in regions.

‘‘We have some interim committees that will be running the youth league. Our first launch will be in the Eastern Region, on a date to be advised, most likely within the next two weeks.

“For beach football, we also want to start with 10 clubs per region. The same goes for Futsal, meaning to say after the launch, will then have 40 clubs participating in leagues throughout all our regions in beach and Futsal.

“Then, for women football, we are going to have 10 per region and for the girls 10 per province. What we have done for that is that we have bought enough equipment for all the teams that we are going to have.

“What we want is that when we say we have a national team, it is a true representation of the nation, not a representative of the PSL.

‘‘Whatever I have said today, like identifying gaps, these are some of the gaps that we have identified and these are the things that you need to judge us from. I am sure we have been in the office just for nine months now.’’

ZIFA are hoping to sustain the leagues using the funding from FIFA earmarked for development.

According to the blue-print, Kamambo and his board may not even be there to see the long-term results of investing in junior football.

But the ZIFA board said they had put in place a development template that would be use by those national football leaders who will even come after them.

“We are going to start off with the Under-15s next year. This means the coming next year we will have Under-17s for both boys and girls and then the third year we will have Under-19s.

“Since our term is just four years, we might not see the results but we have a template, we now have a national team policy, which I think, whoever, will be in the office then, will just take from the template.

“We want to keep them up to Under-19 together and then they will the start competing for the Under-20 and Under-23 national teams whilst the senior team takes part in the senior competitions.

“There are other competitions that we are no longer going to be using our senior national team where these guys will then fill in.

‘‘We borrowed this model from other institutions like Zambia and South Africa. We had a bench-marking trip in South Africa and we are now implementing,” said Kamambo.

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Mukudzei Chingwere Sports Reporter
ZIFA have, for the first time, said they never banned any of the Warriors from being picked for national duty after the 2019 AFCON debacle. The absence of a number of regular players, who usually play for the team, in the squad that featured in the 2022 World Cup preliminary round qualifiers against Somalia, was widely attributed to a ban effected by the domestic football leaders.

This followed a statement, which the ZIFA officials issued, suggesting they had dissolved the Warriors in the wake of the disastrous Nations Cup campaign.

The Warriors’ 2019 AFCON camp in Egypt was hit by a number of boardroom battles between the players and ZIFA officials over bonuses and allowances.

And, on their return home, ZIFA leaders said the national team had been dissolved and only players, who showed a certain level commitment to the national cause, would be considered.

A number of regulars – including Knowledge Musona, George Chigova, Khama Billiat, Ovidy Karuru and Edmore Sibanda – were not named in the squad for the World Cup preliminary round, first leg, qualifier against Somalia.

However, Billiat and Karuru were considered for the reverse fixture in Harare where the Kaizer Chiefs forward scored the decisive goal that swept the Warriors into the group stages of the qualifiers.

Billiat said he still wanted his partnership with Musona, saying the Smiling Assassin always brought the best out of him, whenever they played for the Warriors.

He said Musona’s presence also lifted the burden, of delivering the goals, from many of the Warriors, because of his excellent conversion rate for the team, leaving them to play with more freedom.

Responding to questions from the media yesterday, the ZIFA leaders said although what some players did in Egypt deserved to be punished by banishment from the national team, they had not banned any player.

“There is no player who was banned, the coach is free to select any player he wants to,” said ZIFA president Felton Kamambo.

“If you remember there are players like Khama (Billiat), Ovidy (Karuru) who were not part of the first leg but were called up for the second leg.”

The ZIFA boss said, when a ban is effected, the association officially advise those who would have been sanctioned through written correspondence.

None of the players who were in Egypt, said Kamambo, ever received a letter from ZIFA advising them they would not be considered for national duty.

The ZIFA officials said they had come up with a process where, in the event a player they believed did not behave accordingly in Egypt is called into the national team, would have to undergo a rehabilitation.

That exercise, the local football leaders said, including sitting down with those players and making them understand the importance of representing their country and where they might have erred during the Nations Cup adventure.

Kamambo’s deputy, Philemon Machana, also reiterated that no player had been backlisted from the Warriors.

“You remember we issued a statement soon after AFCON where we said the team has been disbanded, in future if it is felt that some players did not conduct themselves properly they will be talked to,’’ he said.

“It does not need to be him (Kamambo), it can be anyone from the executive, the team manager, the secretariat of the coach to talk to the players.

“Certain things happened in Egypt, which called for banning if we want to be strict, (but) we feel we need to give the players a chance and for, now, no player is banned.’’

ZIFA board member, Farai Jere, who is also the Premier Soccer League chairman and ended up playing the role of Warriors’ head of delegation in Egypt, also said no player was banned from playing for the national team.

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Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
SUPERSPORT United coach Kaitano Tembo is on the verge of winning his first major trophy as a coach in the South African Premiership. He led his side into the MTN 8 Cup final on Wednesday evening after a 2-0 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in their semi-final at the Lucas Moripe Stadium.

Tembo’s men proceeded to the final on 3-2 aggregate victory.

SuperSport United will meet Highlands Park in the final at Orlando Stadium on October 5.

Last year, Tembo again guided his team to the final of the same tournament but lost to Cape Town City in Durban.

“It’s not just getting into the final but to do a job in the final,’’ said Tembo.

“We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game. They rested nine players and had fresh legs and we only had one change from the Saturday game.

“It’s not easy to play against a team like Sundowns and come out with a result like this.’’

The coach, who won the MTN8 as an assistant to then SuperSport United coach, Eric Tinkler in 2017, said he was happy to play the final at the Orlando Stadium.

“It’s a Cup final. It’s a neutral venue. We are happy to go there,’’ he told the South African media. What is important for us is to stay humble because we have not yet won it. We are playing against a very difficult team in Highlands Park.’’

Tembo’s coaching profile in South Africa keeps growing by each passing week since he took charge at Matsatsansa last season as the substantative coach. He is the only Zimbabwean in charge of a team in Super Diski.

The Cup final will have a strong Zimbabwean flavour as Highlands Park are home to veteran goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini and forward Tendai Ndoro.

SuperSport United boast of the Warriors duo of Kuda Mahachi and Evans Rusike as well as former Warriors defender Onismor Bhasera.

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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Table Tennis Union got a shot in the arm ahead of their Region V Games set for Lesotho when the Chinese Embassy gave them kits to use at the tournament. The team, which will be made up of both men and women, received the kits ahead of the Chinese Ambassador’s Cup at the Harare International School this weekend.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the director of political section at the Chinese Embassy in Harare, Guo Ping, said they are glad to be partnering Zimbabwe and believes the sponsorship will go a long way in boosting the team at this year’s Region V Games.

“We have given the team some kits for both the Ambassador’s Cup and the Region V Games.

“This year’s Ambassador’s Cup tournament has a different meaning as it coincides with the country’s 70th anniversary.

“China is a powerhouse in the world of table tennis and has dominated on the world stage and so we decided to help develop the sport here in Zimbabwe two years ago through the Ambassador’s Cup.

“I am happy that there is a growing interest in the sport in Zimbabwe and the drive to emulate China, which has players who come tops in international events,” said Ping.

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Tadious Manyepo Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE Sables may have won the Victoria Cup, with a game to spare, but they are now targeting a whitewash as part of fulfilling the targets they set for themselves at the start of the adventure.

The Sables take on Kenya in Nairobi in their last match tomorrow. And, manager, Jason Maritz, say failure to beat the East Africans would be a step backwards for them.

The Sables secured the four-team tournament when they thrashed Zambia at the Lusaka Show Grounds last week.

They have won all the five matches in the competition and Maritz said the team’s target was winning all the matches.

“We are out in Kenya with the Victoria Cup in the bag already. We are proud of that,’’ he said.

“Winning the Victoria Cup, with a game still to play, is great stuff. Our initial aim remains that of posting six wins out of six. We are under no illusions, though, we know the match against Kenya will be very tough.

“We are aware of what Kenya can bring into this match. But, winning all our matches has always been our target and, despite the fact that we have already won the Victoria Cup, we still have targets to achieve.”

Coach Brendan Dawson has made some few changes to his squad as he aims to give a chance to other players he intends to use in the 2023 World Cup qualifiers.

“We are laying out the foundation for the 2023 Rugby World Cup so we need to improve,’’ the manager said.

“We still have that hunger to succeed. So, we are definitely in Kenya for some work. We are not treating the encounter any differently from any other Test match we have played.

“Be that as it may, we are also going to try out some combinations, experimenting in one or two positions as our target remains that of reaching the Rugby World Cup in 2023.

“We are going to give some players a chance to prove themselves but we need to win this one. At the end of the day, we have to wrap up a good season. We need to make Zimbabwe proud.”

Sables squad
Tatenda Rwenyu, Kieth Murray, David Makanda, Sean Beevor,Godfrey Muzanargwo, Godwin Mangenje, Brian Nyaude, Biselele Tshamala (vc), Hilton Mudariki (c), Dudlee White Sharpley, Blithe Mavesere, Chibuwe Ngoni, Daniel Capsopoulos, Takudzwa Kumadiro, Kudakwashe Chiwanza,Bornwell Gwinji, Matthew Mandioma, Royal Mwale, George Saungweme, Tonderai Dwadwa, Rufaro Chikwaira, Njabulo Ndlovu, Jeremiah Jaravaza

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Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
THE newly-established Ruwa Country Club clubhouse was gutted by fire, leaving a trail of destruction. National Police spokesperson Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident and said they were still investigating the cause of the fire.

“We can confirm that there was fire breakout at Ruwa Country Club and we are still investigating the cause.

“We are not yet aware of the value of the destroyed property, but no one was injured,” said Nyathi.

Ruwa was recently transformed into a golf resort and residential estate and the development is currently underway. They completed a brand new 18-hole championship golf course.

The 75-year-old clubhouse underwent extensive refurbishment which was “designed to retain its old charm whilst at the same time delivering modern conveniences.’’

Situated east of Harare, approximately 26 kilometres along Mutare Road, the up-market golf resort is Zimbabwe’s second such development after Borrowdale Brooke.

The estate sits on 144 hectares (360 acres) and was created by consolidating two adjoining properties, one of which housed the original Ruwa Golf and Country club.

The new property has been sub-divided to create a “recreational area” comprising the golf course, hotel, conference centre and other facilities.

The remainder is divided into 168 residential stands of approximately 2 000 square metres each.

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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
THE Warriors ended their training in an anti-climax yesterday when striker Evans Katema dislocated his elbow ahead of the CHAN qualifier against Lesotho on Sunday at the National Sports Stadium. The Dynamos forward lost balance in a tussle for possession in what was to be the last piece of action before interim head coach, Joey Antipas, called time on the two-hour morning training session.

Katema was visibly in pain as he was helped off the pitch by the Warriors medical team. The doctors were yesterday still assessing the extent of the injury and the dreadlocked player is likely to be out of selection for Sunday’s game.

Yadah midfielder Leeroy Mavhunga also sat out of yesterday’s session, frustrated by a knock that effectively ruled him out of selection after some thorough examinations by the Warriors medical personnel.

Mavhunga apparently has been nursing an ankle injury and it appears he aggravated it during midweek when his side Yadah played Bulawayo Chiefs at the National Sports Stadium.

He featured for 85 minutes before he was taken out.

“Evans dislocated the elbow but he needs more assessment. Otherwise, the rest of the guys are ready and willing to fight for the country, probably with the exception Mavhunga,’’ said Antipas.

“He couldn’t train today (yesterday) and it seems like he had this ankle problem for some time.

“He is definitely out of this game.

“But, for a guy like Evans, I think he was going to play a part and we hope he recovers in time for the match.”

The Warriors technical department, which also has Lloyd Chitembwe and Tonderai Ndiraya, is not leaving anything to chance in their quest to book a place at 2020 CHAN finals to be held in Cameroon next January.

The Warriors began their journey in the second round where they made light weight of Indian Ocean islanders Mauritius by winning 7-1 on aggregate.

“I feel that we have worked hard in the days that we have been together as a team.

“We had a double session yesterday. One thing is that the boys are trying to grasp the way we want them to play.

“Slowly, we are polishing up and it’s been hard work to get ourselves ready for Sunday.

“The good thing is that the boys are responding well, which is a positive thing. I would say the combinations are coming up slowly but, surely, and I believe by Sunday we should have achieved that.

“We all know that Lesotho are no push overs, so we need to go there with the right mentality, the right attitude and the willingness to win,” said Antipas.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Maxwell Nyamupangedengu (Harare City), Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders), Simbarashe Chinani (Dynamos).

Defenders: Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), MacClive Phiri (Highlanders), Ian Nekati (ZPC Kariba), Xolani Ndlovu (Chicken Inn), Partson Jaure (Manica Diamonds), Nomore Chinyerere (Hwange), Lawrence Mhlanga (FC Platinum),

Midfielders: Nqobizitha Masuku (Highlanders), Juan Mutudza (Herentals), Joel Ngodzo (CAPS United), Ralph Kawondera, (Triangle United), Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah Stars), Valentine Kadonzvo (Chicken Inn), Sipho Ndlovu (Chicken Inn), Ian Nyoni (Chapungu),Tichaona Chipunza (Chicken Inn), Phineas Bamusi (CAPS United).

Strikers: Never Tigere (FC Platinum), Wellington Taderera (Black Rhinos), William Manondo (Harare City), Prince Dube (Highlanders), Evans Katema (Dynamos), Obriel Chirinda (Chicken Inn).

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WHICH song goes through Donata Katai’s mind when she swims?
She won gold last week for Zimbabwe at the African Junior Swimming Championships in Tunisia in the 100m backstroke.

@UKinZimbabwe spoke to her:

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Donata Katai, I’m 15 years old. I go to Gateway High School and train with the Sharks Club under the guidance of coach Kathy Lobb.

When did you realise swimming was the sport you were good at?
It was in Grade Three when I broke my first record at the inter-house competitions.

How do you prepare yourself for a big race?
I imagine the race from start to finish and go through all the emotions I would go through on the day. I rehearse the whole event in my mind. I eat a meal with lots of carbs, sleep and dream about my race.

What does winning gold mean for you?
It justifies that I am a fast swimmer. I knew I was a fast swimmer in Southern Africa, but to win gold at a competition with all the best swimmers in Africa is even better.

At what point in the pool did you realise you were leading?
It was towards the very end when I took a naughty little peek to see.

What goes through your mind during a race?
It is funny to think about it. It’s usually the last song I would have listened to, but just one line on repeat.

What is your biggest dream?
My biggest dream is to win gold at the Olympics.

What can you say are the challenges you face?
Trying to balance swimming and school has been quite a challenge because studying after practise is hard. It is a challenge girls of my age face especially if you do more than one sport. It’s difficult to be great at your main sport and keep the others going.

Does it bother you when people compare you to Kirsty Coventry (Olympic gold medallist and Zimbabwe’s Sports Minister)?

It doesn’t really bother me because Kirsty is a great person, it shows all my hard work is paying off. But when I look at her achievements I feel a little pressure.

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PARIS. — Paris Saint-Germain launched their latest quest for Champions League football success with a statement win over Real Madrid on Wednesday night, while a late Atletico Madrid comeback foiled Juventus as Manchester City eased to victory in Ukraine.

French giants PSG have failed to make their mark in Europe, crashing out of the Champions League in the last 16 each of the past three years despite the huge sums of money spent by their Qatari owners.

With Neymar suspended and Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani sidelined by injury, Angel Di Maria stepped up in their absence by grabbing two first-half goals in a 3-0 triumph at the Parc des Princes.

Thomas Meunier added the third late on as Madrid, who beat PSG on the way to lifting the trophy in 2016 and 2018, were soundly beaten in their Group A opener with Eden Hazard kept quiet on his full debut.

“There’s no message sent, but we dominated this game very well,” PSG captain Thiago Silva told RMC Sport.

“We have to play like this all the time, in the league as well, with character and hunger.” Real, the 13-time European champions, are still favourites to advance from a section that includes Club Brugge and Galatasaray, who drew 0-0 in Belgium, but the nature of the loss underscored the work that lies ahead for coach Zinedine Zidane.

“They were superior to us in everything they did, and in intensity, which annoys me the most,” said the Frenchman.

Diego Simeone’s Atletico clawed their way back from two goals down in the final 20 minutes to rescue a 2-2 draw at home to Juventus in Group D.

The anticipated clash between Cristiano Ronaldo and Joao Felix, the teenager touted as the heir to Ronaldo’s throne, took a back seat to a Atletico rousing comeback after second-half goals from Juan Cuadrado and Blaise Matuidi put Juve in control. — AFP.

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Robson Sharuko Senior Sports Editor
WHEN Joey Antipas decided he needed some first major reinforcements, in a desperate attempt to rescue the Warriors’ 2022 World Cup campaign, his first call went to Ovidy Karuru.

Many suggested this was because of the trust the duo could have established working together at Super Diski side Amazulu.

While, that could be right, the argument missed a very key period, 10 years ago, when the relationship between the coach and player started, and then flourished, culminating in the two parties establishing a very strong bond of trust.

It started under the shadow of a civil war, in the then capital of the rebel-held northern part of Cote d’Ivoire, when Karuru had just turned 20.

Antipas was then the assistant coach of the Warriors, who were under the guidance of Sunday Chidzambwa, at the inaugural African Nations Championship finals in 2009.

The Confederation of African Football leadership, under Cameroonian strongman, Issa Hayatou, had taken the first finals of the new tournament, reserved for only home-based players, to Cote d’Ivoire, in a gamble for football to try and bring peace to the country.

And, the Warriors found themselves based in Yamoussoukro, the ceremonial capital, right in the heart of the rebel-held northern part of the country with their group matches being played in Bouake, the second largest city in Cote d’Ivoire, and the capital of the rebels.

In 2006, Didier Drogba and his Elephants – desperate to use the team’s popularity across the country as a tool to unite their war-torn nation – had taken their 2006 AFCON qualifier against Madagascar to Bouake as part of their efforts to strengthen the peace process.

And, three years later, the Warriors were playing the CHAN finals’ matches in the same city but security concerns, among the organisers and the hosts, still ran high the team didn’t stay in Bouake, where they played their matches, but in Yamoussoukro, about 100kms away.

Their trips to Bouake, on match days, would see some elaborate security measures being effected, with their team bus accompanied by scores of soldiers in army vehicles, while the tension, inside the stadium, was always clear during those group matches.

But, for Chidzambwa and Antipas, two players – midfielder Karuru, who had just waved goodbye to his teenage years a month earlier, and striker Phillip Marufu, who had spent the better part of his career at Airforce of Zimbabwe side Chapungu – appeared unfazed by all the fears related to this dangerous adventure.

And, in the first group match on February 23, 2009, Karuru thrust the Warriors into the lead after just five minutes against Ghana, and Marufu doubled the lead in the 36th minute with a typical poacher’s strike.

Abdul Ayew, the son of Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele with his first wife Rahim before his second wife, Maha, gave him his two other football-playing sons – Andre and Jordan – struck twice in Bouake to rescue a point for the Black Stars in a pulsating 2-2 draw.

Three days later, again in Bouake, Marufu struck for the Warriors to cancel out Tresor Mputu’s goal for the Democratic Republic of Congo, in a 1-1 draw.

A goalless draw against Libya, in their final group game, where defender Gilbert Banda missed a great chance, meant the Warriors were eliminated, without losing a match, while the two teams that had also failed to beat them in their group – Ghana and the DRC – eventually made the final.

For Antipas, watching from a front-row seat as Chidzambwa’s assistant, the impression Karuru made during those three matches, stuck with the coach.

And, it was further strengthened when they worked together at South African Premiership side Amazulu.

Antipas didn’t succeed Chidzambwa, when he left the Warriors the following year, but he did replace the veteran gaffer this time around, when Mhofu quit the national team two months ago, after the 2019 AFCON finals in Egypt.

Although he is only on a caretaker arrangement, until the end of the year, ZIFA president, Felton Kamambo, said Antipas would be considered, if he applies, for the role of the substantive coach whose identity will be revealed in January.

‘‘Actually, as the one who is in charge right now, he has some sort of advantage over others because he is working with the team and his results could help him,’’ said Kamambo.

Those results, of course, include doing well in all the competitions he is taking charge of, including the CHAN tourney, where Antipas has some unfinished business dating 10 years ago when he was in the trenches with the team, as assistant coach, at that inaugural finals in Cote d’Ivoire.

“It is a very competitive tournament to play in and it will be good for the local Warriors to make the final,” said Antipas.

“As you know, given the exposure involved, it’s a big stage for our players to participate in and market themselves.’’

It’s something Antipas knows because, 10 years ago, after just two group games in Bouake, he saw Karuru make a huge impression on some French scouts, who were looking for fresh African talent, and was signed by US Boulogne to start a five-year romance with football in that country. Of the players who started that first 2009 CHAN finals group match against Ghana, 10 years ago, seven of them – goalkeeper Willard Manyatera, Thomas Sweswe, Zhaimu Jambo, Oscar Machapa, Carrington Gomba, Cuthbert Malajila and Karuru – played in foreign leagues at some point in their careers.

Guthrie Zhokinyi, Gilbert Banda, Pride Tafirenyika and Marufu are the ones who have spent their careers on the domestic front.

Midfielder Thabani Kamusoko, who was introduced as a substitute in that match against the Ghanaians, has already played in Tanzania and Zambia and recently scored the equaliser for his Zambian side, Zesco, in a pulsating 1-1 draw against Young Africans in a CAF Champions League match.

Kamusoko also featured in both legs of the World Cup qualifier against Somalia, which means, Antipas has not yet forgotten those who were with him in that CHAN adventure, under the shadow of a civil war, in Abidjan 10 years ago.

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Eddie Chikamhi Senior Sports Reporter
AFTER studying Lesotho’s recent battles in international football, Warriors caretaker coach Joey Antipas concluded they have a tough task on their hands tomorrow. He has summoned his players to produce their best when they host the first leg of the Africa Nations Championship final, qualifying tie, at the National Sports Stadium tomorrow.

The Warriors, who are hoping to qualify for their fifth CHAN finals, need to find the back of the net at home and hope to avoid conceding.

But Antipas has been called to look deep into his tactics against the visiting Likuena who caused a huge upset when they eliminated neighbours, South Africa, 6-2 on aggregate in the previous round.

“We are playing a team that has been together for some time now. If you look at them closely, they play almost the same team for the World Cup qualifiers,’’ said Antipas.

“They play same team for AFCON, COSAFA and now CHAN while we are just trying to get our local players together. But, one thing I know for sure, is that our local players will give 100 percent. We are hoping to get a positive result to take to the second leg.

“What we are asking for is the backing of the fans since we are at home. We are one nation and we expect to see patriotic Zimbabweans coming to fill the huge stadium in support of the team. We cannot go there and take Lesotho for granted. If we do that then the apple cart could be upset.

“So, we have got to take them for the good side that they are. Of course, they could be coming from a tiny mountain kingdom but they have got talent and they have shown that.

“We have seen some snippets of their games in the World Cup qualifiers and in the CHAN. One thing for sure, that we know as coaches and players, is that we have a game on our hands.”

Zimbabwe are seeking a fifth appearance at the finals to be hosted in Cameroon next year.

The Warriors were part of the cast at the inaugural edition in 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2016.

They only missed the 2018 edition after they were shocked by Namibia. Lesotho have never qualified for the final of any major tournament.

They recently roped in South African coach Thabo Senong to help turn around their fortunes. Likuena arrived in Harare yesterday and are set to have their official training at the match venue this afternoon.

Former South Africa Under-20 coach, Senong, who was recently unveiled by the Lesotho Football Association as the new head coach of the Likuena, indicated he was leaving no stone unturned ahead of the match.

He told the Lesotho publication, The Post, he hopes to transform the country’s football landscape following his success with the South Africa national Under-20 team whom he guided to successive FIFA Under-20 World Cup tournaments recently.

“We want to see Lesotho qualify for tournaments, your AFCONs. We want to see Likuena win tournaments such as COSAFA. It is important that we appreciate the current style of play which is too much love for possession.

“Let’s take that possession and put it into a very effective, attractive football that will create goals and influence a winning mentality within players and the Basotho nation. I think for the past decade many countries on our continent have an idea that Lesotho football is about keeping the ball, skills (and) creativity but they need to know Lesotho can also be dangerous with set-pieces.

“Lesotho can be very dangerous with effective, directive football. Lesotho can be very flexible and surprise many countries because that’s what we are willing to do as the coaching staff,” he said.

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