Mozambique will not be taking this afternoon’s international friendly against the Warriors at Barbourfields Stadium lightly as they prepare for the African Nations Championship scheduled for South Africa next year.
Thandiwe Moyo
Mozambique arrived in Bulawayo on Friday evening and had their training session at Barbourfields Stadium yesterday while the Warriors had their first training session with coach Ian Gorowa yesterday morning.
“We brought a young team to give them a chance to play an international match against a big team. We need to prepare for Chan and giving the young players game time will give us more options for the Championship.
“Our aim is to play a good game. We are going to do that,” said Mozambique coach Joao Chissano.
He said they were happy with the hospitality they had received from Zifa and were readying the players for the match today.
Mozambique are drawn with Nigeria, hosts South Africa and Mali in Group A while Zimbabwe will play in Group B against Uganda, Burkina Faso and Morocco.
Gorowa selected a young team that comprises a number of new faces on the international scene such as Pasca Manhanga, Nqobizitha Masuku and Wonder Kapinda. Zimbabwe will also use the friendly as a preparatory match for Chan and Gorowa is assessing players to draft into the final team for the tournament in South Africa.
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Pasuwa was quoted during the week as saying their objective was to win the match.
The Warriors will be without Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya who is said to be in South Africa on trials. He left the country on Friday soon after their morning session. However, Silas Songani, who was also in South Africa for trials, returned and trained with the team yesterday.
Warren Dube and Nkosana Siwela are also out of the team as they are injured.
A few regulars were included in the squad such as Felix Chindungwe, George Chigova and Danny Phiri while Liberty Chirava has been thrust in the squad as Diya’s replacement. Other players include Bruce Kangwa, Partson Jaure, Milton Ncube, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Lot Chiwunga, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Gerald Ndlovu and Themba Ndlovu.
Zimbabwe have not been able to get past the knockout stages of the competition since its inauguration four years ago and this year coaches Gorowa, Pasuwa and Mkhuphali Masuku are pressed to come up with a strong team that can compete for the title.
Zifa has also said they would organise another friendly against Libya in preparation for Chan.
