Pagels handed chance to spy on Egyptians

Sport
WARRIORS coach Klaus-Dieter Pagels is banking on Friday’s international friendly match between Egypt and Swaziland in Cairo to provide him with the final assessment of the Pharaohs ahead of the March 26 World Cup qualifier in Alexandria.

WARRIORS coach Klaus-Dieter Pagels is banking on Friday’s international friendly match between Egypt and Swaziland in Cairo to provide him with the final assessment of the Pharaohs ahead of the March 26 World Cup qualifier in Alexandria.

BY MICHAEL MADYIRA

The Warriors leave for Egypt on Thursday and will arrive in Cairo the following morning before proceeding to Alexandria on a 180km road trip while escorted by tight security due to political turmoil in Egypt.

After conducting his first training session on Friday afternoon, Pagels and his assistants Lloyd Mutasa and Nkululeko Dhlamini will return to Cairo for the evening match where the German would study the Egyptians for the last time before the Alexandria showdown.

“This is going to help me a lot. Watching our opponents in action a few days before playing them gives one a clear picture of what to expect from them,” said Pagels.

Pagels claims he has already gathered some information on the seven-time African champions through the internet and video footage.

The Warriors will have three full days of training before they plunge into battle.

Pagels had initially requested one more friendly match against a North African opponent before next Tuesday’s duel but Zifa said there were no resources.

He also intended to arrive in Egypt at least five days before the tie but Zifa failed to raise money to cater for the team beyond the five days which the host Football Association is required by CAF to provide for visitors.

“The time we have to prepare for this match is not enough because we need the whole week to improve. But we just have to make do with what is there. This is the time when we need a strong mentality from players,” Pagels said.

The superiorly-resourced Egyptians are bidding for their first World Cup appearance since 1990.

EGYPT’S preparations for the warriors tie The Pharaohs drew nil-all draw with Georgia in Tbilisi in November, followed by a 2-0 win over Qatar on December 28, before losing to Ghana and Ivory Coast 3-0 and 4-2 respectively in other sparring sessions, both staged in the United Arab Emirates last month.

They went down 2-1 to Chile in Madrid, Spain on the same day the Warriors edged Botswana 2-1 last month, before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat in another friendly match against Qatar early this month.

Last year’s Olympics squad forms the core of the Bob Bradley-coached and equally rebuilding Egyptian national team.