Warriors coach Norman Mapeza is under no illusion that Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations football qualifier against Mali at Rufaro Stadium is a must-win game or chances of making the 2012 finals will simply fade.
Yesterday morning, Mapeza began the first session with two pieces of bad news — he will have to make-do without defensive linkman Esrom Nyandoro and right wingback Noel Kaseke due to injuries sustained during the just-ended seasons.
Nyandoro had been recalled after missing the last outing against Mali in Bamako in March, where the Warriors went down 1-0, while Kaseke had managed to make the trip.
Replacements for the pair will be made after a meeting of the technical committee this morning.
“We have to win; nothing else. We have been talking about the importance of this game for some time and we will meet the players again tonight (last night) to discuss that again.
“We are not looking at what the Malians are planning for the match, but our own game plan. If we focus on that (Mali), we will lose the plot. We have to work on something that will give us a win because there is just no other way around this save for a win,” Mapeza said.
The Malians began their camp in South Africa Monday and arrive in the country from Johannesburg on Friday without their Barcelona superstar Seydou Keita, who has been overlooked again for the match.
He was part of the Catalan giants’ team that effortlessly sailed past Manchester United in the Champions League final on Saturday night at Wembley.
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On Nyandoro and Kaseke, Mapeza said: “We have been communicating with his (Nyandoro’s) club and have received faxes from his team doctor about the surgery he is supposed to undergo next week. I also spoke to him and he said he wanted to be part of the team to face Mali.
“But unfortunately, the surgery has been postponed and postponed and probably his club (Mamelodi Sundowns) has been waiting for the season to end before he can be attended to. It’s football, we just have to solider on.
“Kaseke is injured and we also got some information from his club and we have said he just come for assessment by our team doctors first.
“We will decide on replacements probably tomorrow (Tuesday) after we meet as the technical team.”
Monday, all the South Africa-based players were present — Tinashe Nengomasha, Knowledge Musona and Zhaimu Jambo from Kaizer Chiefs, the Sundowns’ duo of Nyasha Mushekwi and captain Method Mwanjali, the Ajax Cape Town pair of Khama Billiart and Willard Katsande together with goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini from Platinum Stars.
Edward Sadomba of Al Hilal in Sudan and Vusa Nyoni of Germinal Beerschot in Belgium were also at training.
From the local contingent, Dynamos number one goalkeeper Washington Arubi and his teammate Guthrie Zhokinyi, Gilbert Mapemba of Caps United and striker Simba Sithole also had a run-out.
Assistant coach Joey Antipas was not at training in the morning as he was still travelling from Bulawayo where his team Motor Action had a league match against Highlanders on Sunday, while goalkeeper Marlon Jani and FC Platinum defender Daniel Vheremu came in the afternoon.
The second session was conducted at Motor Action Sports Club with Justice Majabvi and Ovidy Karuru having arrived from their bases in Austria and France respectively.
Team manager Sharif Mussa said last night that Quincy Antipas was expected later in the night while Kaseke would also report for assessment from Bulawayo.
“Noel will be assessed tomorrow (Tuesday) and we will be having a clearer picture when he plays or we call up somebody to replace him,” Mussa said.
