MOZAMBIQUE has brought a young team for this afternoon’s international friendly against the Warriors.
Thandiwe Moyo Own Correspondent
The coach says the squad is being primed for the big stage — the African Nations Championship (Chan) scheduled for South Africa next year — but would be serious when the match kicks off at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo.
The Mambas arrived in Bulawayo on Friday evening and had a training session at the match venue yesterday.
“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 give the young players game time which will give us more options for the championship.
“Our aim is to play a good game. We are going to play a good game and when you play a good game you win, which is what we want to do. We are going to build from the bottom going up to score the goals,” Mozambique coach João Chissano said.
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 against Nigeria, South Africa and Mali in Group A while Zimbabwe will play in Group B against Uganda, Burkina Faso and Morocco.
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Meanwhile, the Warriors had their first training session with national coach Ian “Dibango” Gorowa yesterday morning at the match venue.
Gorowa selected a young team that comprises a number of new faces such as Pasca Manhanga, Nqobizitha Masuku and Wonder Kamupinda.
Zimbabwe will also use the friendly as a preparatory match for Chan.
One of the assistants Kalisto Pasuwa was quoted during the week as saying their objective was to win the match as well as assess players that would be included in the Chan squad.
However, the Warriors will be without Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya who is said to be in South Africa on trials. He left Bulawayo on Friday soon after the warriors morning session.
Silas Songani, a forward with Harare City, who was also in South Africa for trials returned home and was training with the team yesterday.
Warren Dube and Nkosana Siwela will also be 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 Chan since its inauguration four years ago and this year coaches Gorowa, Pasuwa and Mkhuphali Masuku are expected to come up with a strong team.
Zifa has also said they would organise another friendly against Libya in preparation for Chan.
