Baroka FC goalkeeper Elvis Chipezeze says playing at the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time was a good experience for him.
Chipezeze's howlers saw him conceding four goals against DR Congo in the team's final group match. He came in for Polokwane City shot-stopper George Chigova, who got injured during warm-ups before the game.
The DRC game was the second one for Chipezeze, after he came on as a substitute for injured Edmore Sibanda in the opening match against hosts Egypt. They lost the match 1-0.
Despite all the negativity and criticism, like a true warrior, the Telkom Knockout Cup goalkeeper of the season has decided to take the positives from the competition.
With two losses and a draw, Zimbabwe finished at the bottom of Group A.
"It's a great experience because it's my first AFCON at senior level," Chipezeze tells snl24.com/kickoff.
"So it was a good experience, and as a goalkeeper to play in such big tournaments is good for you because it will help you with where you are in terms of growing and gaining that experience. I've learned a lot in this tournament because you are playing against the top players from all over the world. Some of them are playing in Europe so I have learned a lot in this tournament."
Chipezeze refuses to blame anyone for the embarrassing performance in the game against DR Congo, which they lost 4-0. He made some costly errors in that game.
"All I can say is that we didn't play well in that game. As much as we wanted to win but things were not coming up, that's all I can say. Because this is not a time for blaming and blaming and blaming because at the end of the day we wanted to achieve that goal of going into the next round, and unfortunately it didn't happen so that's all I can say.
"It's football, you'll be thinking because we've been playing well in the qualifiers then at the tournament it will be easy. But in football there is no easy game. Every game will be difficult and you will have to work for you to win so, it's football, it's part of the game. One day you are up there, the next day you are down so it's part of it."
Chipezeze says he disagrees with those who says there is no progress in the COSAFA region when it comes football.
"I can't say we are going backwards. We are going forward because if you check now we had how many countries qualified for this tournament? We are going forward because last time Zambia also won this Cup so, it's a process. Very soon things will be okay. If only one team progresses to the next round you'll never know, so it's a process. So it will come right but in time, don't worry, in time."