Warriors battered again by Bafana, return empty-handed
South Africa . . .(1) 3
Zimbabwe . . . . .(1) 1
Zimbabwe’s former Warriors completed their historic trip of shame to South Africa – their worst football tour in living memory outside Asiagate – with a total capitulation to their hosts at Free State Stadium this evening.
Not that any serious football pundit would have expected anything different from the Zifa Abnormal Committee’s administration which has brought us this low and so perilously close to surrendering our proud 4-1 record whacking of South Africa in 1993.
But Bafana Bafana are now top of Group C in the winding World Cup qualifying run as a result of this big victory and now the outright favourites to clinch the sole ticket to USA ’26.
They are tied on seven points with unfancied Benin with Lesotho trailing on five points after being humbled 0-1 by Rwanda.
Nigeria are stuttering in the mid-table but faring much better than Zimbabwe.
The Warriors were never in the running from the start, despite the two brave draws secured in Rwanda against that country and Nigeria, when Portuguese gaffer Baltemar Britto who on hindsight should never have been dismissed, called the shots.
Britto’s replacement Jairos Tapera, bruised by the 0-2 battering at the hands of lowly Lesotho at Orlando on Friday, tried to be his own man by discarding the bulk of players selected for him by shadowy forces, and introducing six changes in the starting line-up for the SA duel.
The Manica Diamonds mentor dropped goalkeeper Donovan Bernard for his club ‘keeper Geoffrey Chitsumba, and further wielded the axe on Andrew Mbeba, Teenage Hadebe, Jordan Zemura, Daniel Msendami and Tino Kadewere.
In their place he introduced CAPS United star defender Godknows Murwira, the previously sidelined Walter Musona and the trio of Richard Hachiro, centre-back Munashe Garan’anga and striker Douglas Mapfumo.
It paid no dividends.
Bafana Bafana were already upfront in the first minute, courtesy of a Garanganga howler and Chitsumba spill that left Iqraam Rayners with only an empty net to beat.
Newcomer Tawanda Chirewa, the maverick Wolves midfielder, showed the great individual potential in the team by restoring parity hardly a minute later following some fine footwork on the right flank.
Chirewa was a joy to watch for the entire duration.
But the team played as individuals and, just like in the Lesotho embarrassment, failed to click in loose play and were outplayed in all departments with the dangerous Khuliso Mudau combining beautifully with Odrey Modiba, Temba Zwane and Siphelelo Sithole in Bafana’s ball exchanges.
Against only two corner-kicks for Zimbabwe, Bafana Bafana forced an innumerable 12, including four one after the other, as they rampaged through in a second half in which coach Hugo Broos had totally changed their approach to the game to a slow motion tempo with fresh pairs of feet still mesmerizing the unstuck visitors.
Super sub Thapelo Morena pumped in the second and third goals in the 55th and 76th minutes for the final nail in the sabotaged Warriors coffin.
Defensively Godknows Murwira, Divine Lunga and Gerald Takwara had a resolute first half that somehow evaporated after the restart.
Bearded Andy Rinomhota was another Warrior who put on a forceful show in the first period but skipper Marshall Munetsi remained almost anonymous throughout the duel rendering our midfield immobile.
Tapera also has some outstanding issues to clear regarding how he could wait for the final minute of the game to make his treble substitution.
Only three injury minutes were left when Tapera finally remembered he had unused substitutes on the bench.
And of the three belated subs, Tinotenda Kadewere, Trymore Machope and Jordan Zemura it was only the latter who would get any feel of the ball.
*Warriors starting lineup*
Geoffrey Chitsumba, Godknows Murwira, Gerald Takwara, Munashe Garan’anga, Divine Lunga, Walter Musona, Richard Hachiro, Andy Rinomhota, Marshal Munetsi, Douglas Mapfumo, Tawanda Chirewa.
Substitutes: Daniel Msendami 46th min, Zemura, Kadewere, Machope (90th)
