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Munetsi challenges gvt to hasten NSS renovations

Sport
Munetsi believes that had they enjoyed the home comforts against Nigeria and Cameroon, they could have probably won these matches and brightened their chances of qualifying to the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Warriors vice captain Marshal Munetsi has called on authorities to speed up renovations at the National Sports Stadium (NSS) to allow the team to host its home matches in the country.

Zimbabwe was forced to play their last three international home matches in foreign lands owing to a lack of a CAF approved stadium in the country.

They hosted Nigeria in Rwanda in a World Cup qualifier last year while their two Africa Cup of Nations home qualifiers against Cameroon and Namibia were played in Uganda and South Africa, respectively.

Zimbabwe managed to earn two goalless draws against Nigeria and Cameroon before beating Namibia twice.

A sizeable number of supporters, mostly Johannesburg based Zimbabweans watched the game against the Brave Warriors last  Monday at Orlando Stadium where the Warriors comfortably won 3-1 courtesy of a brace from Walter Musona and Prince Dube.

Khama Billiat scored the only goal of the match in the reverse fixture last Thursday last week, played at the same venue but behind closed doors at the request of "hosts" Namibia.

Munetsi believes that had they enjoyed the home comforts against Nigeria and Cameroon, they could have probably won these matches and brightened their chances of qualifying to the World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations finals.

"This is what we have been calling for from the association and the government (because) they are depriving the supporters back home the beautiful game," Munetsi bemoaned.

"We have a lot of talent, players that are coming from Europe who need to experience the atmosphere of playing at home. You can see the supporters that came through (against Namibia) pushed us. They gave us the energy that we needed. The win is for them because we know it hasn't been easy for them as well.

"We have been suspended from international football and now we have to give them the joys that they had been missing so dearly. When you play at home, it is always different. If you look at Cameroon, they won all the games that they played at home.

"This is something that we need to make sure that we play at the National Sports Stadium and have 60 000 people cheering us on.

"It's a different feeling when you are playing at home.  We have to find a way to play at home and use this advantage."

The NSS was closed for renovations some few years ago, but the progress is not coming quick enough for players and supporters who have to bear the brunt of traveling to foreign lands every time they want to watch the team play.

Sports minister Kirsty Coventry earlier this year promised that renovations will be done before the end of this year, but there is nothing on the ground to suggest that international football will return to the country anytime soon.

Zimbabwe's back to back victories over Namibia last week put the Warriors on the brink of qualification to the Afcon finals qualification.

The Michael Nees coached side are on eight points and just need to avoid a defeat when they face off with Kenya next month to secure their ticket to Morocco next year.

If Zimbabwe lose against Kenya, they might need to beat the already qualified Cameroon in the last match of the campaign to make sure of progress to the finals.

Kenya are on four points and have to win all their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and the already eliminated Namibia to go through.

"We have to take each game as it comes" Munetsi said. "We have to keep on doing what we have been doing. We know Kenya will come with everything that they have. It will be like a final. For us we will need to encourage each other that when we go back to our clubs, we have to push hard so that we come back in good condition for the game. We have a good team, we just need to remain grounded and keep on pushing."

 

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