Warriors beat Mozambique

Sport
Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 2 Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1

Zimbabwe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(1) 2 Mozambique . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0) 1

WARRIORS head coach Ian Gorowa says he is impressed with the new players that he fielded yesterday in his first home win in a friendly match at Barbourfields Stadium ahead of the African Nations Championship (Chan) tournament to be held in South Africa next month.

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FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER

After beating the Mambas, Gorowa said he was not concerned about the result of the game as it was only a preparatory match ahead of next year’s competition in South Africa.

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New players yesterday were Bantu Rovers skipper Nqobizitha Masuku, Buffaloes central defender Themba Ndlovu and Shabanie Mine midfielder Frankson Bushire. Gorowa played substitutes Partson Jaure, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Bruce Kangwa and Ali Sadiki in unfamiliar positions.

“It was a good game. We are trying to test other players that we have not seen and this was a good exercise. Mozambique are a very good team. They gave us a good match, but it was only a preparatory game. We need to train more. Nqobizitha played well. It was his first game,” Gorowa said.

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For the players in unfamiliar positions, Gorowa said: “It is good to have such kind of options. In my opinion, Milton is a left-back, he is more reserved. As for Jaure, he did not give enough steel in midfield. We have to consolidate the midfield.

The players have to learn that we have to defend together and play as a compact team,” Gorowa said. When Zvirekwi came in in the 61st minute, he played on the right-back position.

Mozambique coach João Chissano, who will face Nigeria and South Africa in the Chan tournament, was also happy after the game.

“It was a good game. It was positive and we played a strong team and we tried to do our best in the second half. We have new young players that we brought in in the second half. I am happy for them. We are hoping that we would make surprises in the Chan tournament.

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“We don’t have any pressure. It is South Africa and Nigeria who will be under pressure. We will just have to make something positive out of it and win one or two games,” Chissano said.

Notable players in the Mambas squad were their skipper Manhique Guilherme Lourenco and Alberto Diego Antonio, with the latter substituted in the 69th minute, changing the Mozambicans game for the worse.

The Warriors scored through Simba Sithole in the 10th minute. He received a pass from right-back Wonder Kapinda before shrugging off a challenge from Mozambique’s Bernado Benedito Gormano. He let off a screamer inside the box which beat goalkeeper Terroz Logomale Nelson.

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The second goal came in the 76th minute from substitute Ali Sadiki after Milton Ncube playing on the left-back position, cut in from the centre and sent Sadiki through and the FC Platinum player made no mistake from inside the box and curled the ball past Nelson.

Mambas got their consolation a minute into the second half through a dubious penalty awarded by local referee Ruzive Ruzive, who adjudged that Kapinda had fouled striker Guambo Saddam Abdul. Diego Antonio converted the spot-kick.

Teams Zimbabwe: G Chigova, W Kapinda (H Zvirekwi 61st minute), M Ncube, T Ndlovu, F Chindungwe, D Phiri, N Masuku (P Jaure 60th minute), S Sithole (S Sithole 77th minute), S Songani (B Kangwa 64th minute), K Mahachi (P Manhanga 87th minute), F Bushiri (A Sadiki 58th minute)

Mozambique: T Nelson, D Antonio, M Lopes, M Francisco, B Gormano (M Isnard (90+ minute), A Antonio (C Barros 69th minute), M Euginio (S Sebastio 82nd minute), M Lourenco (A Abacar 90+ minute), G Abdul, V Zacaris (D Tome 89th minute), A Belito (F Celso 74th minute)