The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
THE 2019 edition of Africa Cup of Nations gets underway at the 80 000-seater Cairo Stadium in Cairo, Egypt, with the Warriors opening their account against the host nation tonight, with tickets for the encounter sold out by end of last month.
Refreshingly, for the first time in decades of mediocrity, football fans and analysts are appreciating the preparations that were put in place for the national team before the tournament.
In their preparations for Afcon 2019, the Warriors played in the regional Cosafa Cup before engaging highly-rated Super Eagles of Nigeria and Tanzania in friendly matches.
It is now up to the senior men’s national team to impress or disappoint when the tournament gets underway tonight.
Norman Mapeza
“I think they had good preparations. It was first with the Cosafa tournament and then that international friendly against Nigeria where I think the team played very, very well.
“In such tournaments like the Afcon, it is all about mental attitude, self belief and confidence. The team looks very balanced and solid in all departments.
“Like what the national team coach has been saying, it is all about going to the next round and it is possible with the three Ds in mind, Discipline, Dedication and Determination.”
Rodwell Dhlakama
“I think preparations started from the day they ventured into the African Safari and were further buttressed by several friendly matches they played along the way, bracketed by the Cosafa Cup in which they also participated.
“That alone it is clear testimony that they mean business and did not go to Egypt to make numbers.
“The boys played together from age group 17 and in terms of combinations, it is an advantage to them. Knowledge Musona, Ovidy Karuru, Khama Billiat, Rusike, George Chigova played in the same team at Under-17 in 2008 but so much water has gone under the bridge from that year with most players getting professional contracts outside the country which gave the necessary experience to handle any pressure that might come their way .
“This is a very good balanced team in terms of experience, and for most of the players, age is still on their side.
“We derive satisfaction from the way they qualified and the way they played in the Cosafa Cup will give us a lot of confidence going into this tournament which is the biggest in the continent by any measure.
“The combinations we have and the rhythm are excellent which should give us great hope against Egypt and other teams in the group.
“I am sure this time will be able to surpass the previous achievement in the same tournament, that is, going past the group stage.”
Taurai Mangwiro
“Allow me to wish the Warriors success at Afcon in Egypt. It is our wish to see the team do well and I personally would want them to lift the country’s flag high.
“They had a good run in qualifying matches and going into the tournament over the years we have always yearned for better preparations and longer time in camp.
“I am sure the team has been given time to prepare longer than the previous times that we have been at Afcon, hopefully it will help and the coach and his technical team we are very much behind him.
“I wish them very well. It gives me a lot of satisfaction when I look at the constituency of the team and I see that out of the 23 selected players, 13 at some stage in their careers I have worked with them either in junior national teams or at club level so that is very encouraging for me.
“I want to see these players continue to succeed. All I can pray for is a good run at Afcon. All we need is to support them. Mhofu has done well and he deserves our support.”
