Warriors Win Cosafa Plaudits

ZIMBABWE'S Warriors might have bowed out of the COSAFA Castle Cup at the preliminary round stage, but the team has won plaudits from the regional body's leadership with Callisto Pasuwa and his men being saluted for their qualification for the 2017 African Cup of Nations.

The Warriors, using a bunch of home-grown talent, were for the second successive year eliminated at the preliminary group stage at the COSAFA Castle Cup in Windhoek, with Swaziland edging them for the top spot via a two-point advantage.

Swaziland eventually finished third following a 1-0 triumph over Democratic Republic of Congo while South Africa overcame Botswana 3-2 in the final for a record equalling fourth COSAFA Cup title.

But the COSAFA leadership believes Zimbabwe's early exit from the tournament in Windhoek should not blight the bigger picture of the Warriors' achievement, which is their qualification for the Nations Cup finals in Gabon in January next year.

Warriors Win Cosafa Plaudits

COSAFA executive member John Muinjo paid glowing tribute to the Warriors for being "the pride of the region" in the Nations Cup qualification campaign and backed Zimbabwe to go all the way to the final in Gabon.

Muinjo said they were also particularly impressed by the fact that the coach who has taken the Warriors to only their third Nations Cup appearance -- Pasuwa -- was a product of the COSAFA Castle Cup having featured in the competition for several years as player and now as coach.

Pasuwa's men are the only team from the Southern African region to have secured a berth at the continental football showcase and unlike on their previous two appearances in 2004 and 2006, the Warriors this time qualified for Gabon with a game to spare, claiming the Group L ticket ahead of Swaziland, Guinea and Malawi.

"I am very proud of Zimbabwe and I know they will represent us well. They have a coach who came through the COSAFA ranks and people should not be surprised if Zimbabwe go and win the AFCON in Gabon.

"It will not be by sheer luck, but because of the rich potential that the country has. I watched Zimbabwe's AFCON qualifying match against Malawi at the National Sports Stadium and there was so much passion and that passion will drive the Warriors and football in the country.

"For all the hardships that the country has gone through and for all the challenges that ZIFA have gone through without resources they have qualified for four tournaments which is the Olympics, for the Women, the African Games, CHAN and now the AFCON.

"The mere fact that they could qualify as Southern Africa's representatives shows that they could go out there and even bring the cup home and the players who can achieve that are there," Muinjo said.

Former FIFA and CAF referee Muinjo also reckoned that the competition in the COSAFA Castle Cup was improving with each year and noted the increasing faith being placed in young talent by most teams.

"It is every participating association's choice to decide which team they send to the COSAFA Castle Cup and I am happy that the standard of football in the region has gone up each year. The teams are now using more young players although most of those that brought entirely youngsters didn't do quite well. Of course South Africa benefited from their Olympic team, but I am sure the objective of COSAFA has been achieved.