CAPS United forward, Abbas Amidu, has expressed joy at re-uniting with his former coach, Sunday Chidzambwa, ahead of the African Nations Chamiponships (CHAN) 2018 qualifier against Namibia today.
The 27-year-old former Black Mambas winger played under the veteran gaffer at Black Leopards in the ABSA Premiership side four years ago.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Namibia clash, Amidu said the Warriors call up is a big achievement and a restoration of his career.
“. . . getting a call up to the national team is a big achievement, because at the end of the day, I worked with Sunday [Chidzambwa] when I was in South Africa, and he’s one of the coaches who knows my abilities. He still believes in me, he still has faith in me that I can do it.
“At the moment it’s like a restoration for my career you know . . . last time we played in Kariba, he (Chidzambwa) said ‘I’m happy you are back from where I left you in South Africa, now . . . you are really showing something and I’m willing [and] if I get a chance, I want to work with you again’.
“So I didn’t know that the re-union Mhofu talked about would be at national team level”, said Amidu.
The former Kaizer Chiefs forward has played a pivotal role for CAPS United where he was switched from winger to centre forward by head coach, Lloyd Chitembwe, after an injury crisis. He has gone on to score crucial goals for the Castel Lager Premier League champions both on the domestic scene and in the CAF champions league where they exited during the group stages.
Amidu, who was not part of Chidzambwa’s recent COSAFA success in South Africa, was called up together with Highlanders forward, Prince Dube, and ZPC Kariba striker Francesco Zekumbawire, with high chances that he will be utilised as a striker against Namibia.
“My personal dream is that Zimbabwe has never ever won the CHAN tournament. [Calisto] Pasuwa and [Ian] Gorowa left in the semi-finals in South Africa, if I’m not mistaken. So we need to reach beyond that [semi-finals] because we need to have our [local] players recommended.
“You know I’m happy with how the guys show cased their talent during COSAFA, they showed that in Zimbabwe we have good quality,” he said.