FOOTBALL legend Willard “Mashinkila” Khumalo has urged the Warriors not to go to Angola and defend the 3-1 lead when the two sides meet in the crunch 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) final qualifying round second leg in Luanda on Sunday.
REPORT BY FORTUNE MBELE SPORTS REPORTER
Mashinkila played for the Warriors under legendary coach, the late Reinhard Fabisch. Khumalo said it is war against Angola on Sunday and the Warriors should go for an early kill to ensure they are safe.
“Our chances are looking bright if we play our cards right. We should not go there to defend, but attack. But then we should not forget to defend as well,” Mashinkila said. He said the boys should avoid a repeat of the slackness that characterised the second half of the first leg, but should take the game to the Angolans.
“We should just take our game to them. At the moment there is no need to worry about the calibre of players that will play, but whoever will represent us should know that it’s war.
“The Angolans will play mind games and they will try to intimidate us, but I know Rah (head coach Rahman Gumbo) is an experienced coach and he will be able to deal with that,” Khumalo said. Another Warriors legend Agent “Ajira” Sawu has also rallied behind the national team.
Sawu said although the chances looked 50-50 in Luanda, the Warriors had an advantage because of the 3-1 win in Harare.
Warriors have advantage
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Added Sawu: “I will not go into the tactics and the approach to that game, but it’s one game that needs all the players, including the technical team that is travelling.
“The chances are 50-50, but we should go there with an attacking mind and get a goal fast. We have an advantage because of the win and we pray that we win in Angola on Sunday. We are behind the boys,” Sawu said.
German-based sniper Knowledge Musona and Tinashe “Father” Nengomasha, who is based in South Africa, who missed the first leg, are available with Kaizer Chiefs pair of Kingston Nkatha and Lincoln Zvasiya. Also making a return is Maritzburg United’s Cuthbert Malajila and Al Hilal star Edward Sadomba.
Warriors carry a seemingly healthy lead THE Warriors carry a seemingly healthy lead against Angola after making a bold statement on September 9 in Harare with a 3-1 victory on a day that Khama Billiat turned on the power with Archford Gutu after the visitors had conceded an early own goal.
