ZIMBABWE football team coach Zdravko Logarusic is confident of progressing to the semifinals of the Cosafa Cup despite dropping points in their opening two matches against perceived weaker opponents of the group.
The Warriors had to come from a two-goal deficit to force a 2-2 draw against Malawi this afternoon, having drawn against Mozambique in their tournament’s opening match on Wednesday.
While daggers have already been drawn out by the Croat’s critics, Logarusic is riding on the success of the Africa Cup of Nations campaign where he got the all-important win, his first in a 0-1 win away in Francistown against Botswana.
He is confident the Ovidy Karuru captained Warriors will turn the tables on their last two group games against Namibia and Senegal.
“Things will be okay; there is no reason not to be optimistic. We had a change of tactics and personnel from two goals down, and we managed to come back,” said Logarusic after the match against Malawi.
“I’m happy with the performance of the players because we finished with seven players who are playing in the Zimbabwe league, and it’s good because we are also looking at the forthcoming CHAN qualifiers. Look, most of these players had last played competitive football in November 2019.
“But of course, I’m not happy with the result but happy in that we still have two matches to prove our worth.”
Malawi took the lead after 26 minutes courtesy of a Khuda Myaba strike which was enough to take the Warriors opponents to halftime leading.
Kuwali Schumacher doubled the advantage for Malawi after 50 mins to put seemingly put the match beyond the Warriors reach.
However, the Warriors showed character to score two goals after the hour mark. First to find the net was Blessing Sarupinda with a simple tap inside the box in the 61st minute, and then Patrick Musaka with a scorcher from an indirect free kick also featured Karuru.
Man of the match, Karuru said the Warriors could have done better had they utilised the chances that came their way.
“I think we created several chances, but we didn’t take them home. I think we have been doing well at training, and we have been pushing to score goals, but I’m happy with the attack because we created a lot of chances which is good for us, you Wil some, you draw you lose, but we will take the point home, ” Karuru said.
