By Zim Sport Live Writer
England-based rising star Tawanda Chirewa has spoken about his first impressions of new Warriors coach Michael Nees and reckons the German tactican can help the team qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco.
After scoring his first international goal for Zimbabwe in his last outing, Chirewa is expected to play another important role for Zimbabwe as they seek a positive start to their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
Zimbabwe open their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign against Kenya at the Mandela National Stadium in Uganda on Friday before completing their double-header against Cameroon at the same venue on Tuesday.
Chirewa described Nees as a good coach with a deep understanding of the modern game.
“He’s been a good manager, a good coach, someone who has a lot of information on the game,” Chirewa told Zifa’s media department on Wednesday.
“He is someone who can help us to develop as a team and have a lot of structure in place in this qualifying campaign – do well and qualify for Afcon.”
Chirewa caught the eye with a brilliant individual display in Zimbabwe’s 3-1 loss in a World Cup qualifer away to South Africa in June, scoring a brilliant consolation goal in that match.
The Ipswich Town Academy product is bracing for his first full season of senior football after recently completing a loan move to second-tier English club Derby County from Premier League side Wolves.
Chirewa also has very high hopes of a successful international career with Zimbabwe and believes they have a very good chance of qualifying for the 2025 Afcon finals in Morocco.
“Definitely, playing for my country is something I’m tremendously proud to do and each time (I play) I feel like having an extra gear, because it’s something that means a lot to me,” he said.
“So definitely in those two games I’m trying to help the team score, assist, (and) defend as well as I can for the team. To qualify, that’s the main target. Anyhow we have to qualify we can qualify, I think. These two games will be a good indicator of how we are as a team, but we can also grow. This is our first camp with the manager so I expect us to win games and play at a high level. People watching at home, I’m just thankful for the support. Us on the pitch will try do as much as we can to make you guys proud, which I’m definitely sure will happen 100 percent.”