Defeat signals death knell

Its southern neighbours, South Africa, massacred Chad 4-0 in another African showcase encounter in Durban on Saturday.
The Warriors had earlier been held to a 1-1 draw at their own backyard in Harare following the unforgettable night in which Zimbabwe’s two top international strikers, Peter Ndlovu and Benjani Mwariwaru, allegedly exchanged blows over a woman in one of their hotel rooms in Harare. The incident happened the night before the crucial match, a development that saw the Warriors walk into the field a house divided.
Complicating matters for Zimbabwe, the Warriors have been bundled out of the Confederation of Southern African Football Association (Cosafa) Castle Cup, elbowed out by the less fancied Mozambique squad in Maputo recently.
Allegations and counter accusations could always be raised here and there against match officials of favouring the hosts but the fact is that the Warriors have run out of the much-needed steam and lack hungry and accurate strikers.
It is a fact that Sunday “Mhofu” Marimo had assembled one of the best squads ever during the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations finals held in Tunisia, and Mhlauri could not hold the momentum.
It’s so sad that the Warriors have kissed good-bye to the 2008 Ghana Africa Cup of Nations but Mhlauri, if he is to be given another opportunity should start preparing for the 2010 soccer world cup to be held in South Africa. The junior policy must start working wonders now or never as the world cup’s historic event in the African soil takes place in the neighbouring South Africa in 2010.
Elsewhere, Ethiopia shocked the Democratic Republic of Congo whom they narrowly edged 1-0 in Addis Ababa while the war torn Sudan thrashed visiting Mauritius 3-0 in Khartoum on Sunday.
Former African champions Tunisia massacred continental lightweights Seychelles 4-0 in Tunisia with Angola being held to 1-1 draw by little known Eritrea.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria were defeated 2-1 by Uganda in another African tie that produced some shock results as Nigeria are the heavy weights of football in Africa.
Zimbabwe’s northern neighbours, Zambia thrashed Congo 3-0 in another African Cup of Nations match played in Lusaka over the weekend.
Unfortunately the victory ended in tears and sorrow following the death of 12 fans, who died shortly after the match official had blown the end whistle.