IT’S YET another Battle of the Limpopo this evening as the Warriors of Zimbabwe take on South Africa in an international friendly football match at Orlando Stadium in Soweto, Johannesburg.
BRIAN NKIWANE IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA
The match kicks off at 2030hrs.
The Warriors arrived here yesterday morning with 10 players who did duty against Mozambique in the 1-1 drawn 2014 World Cup qualifier on Sunday and were joined by Knowledge Musona, Denver Mukamba, Khama Billiat, Kingstone Nkhatha and Cuthbert Malajila at around lunchtime.
Durban–based Carlington Nyadombo joined the team just after 1500hrs to take the squad to 16 players.
They are staying at the Gold Reef City Hotel in Johannesburg, where they had to cool off in the swimming pool due to the simmering heat.
Warriors number one goalkeeper Washington Arubi and Onismor Bhasera were yet to arrive, but were due in time for training in the evening. A notable absentee was Eusebio Manuwere, who is now based in Mozambique, due to club duty.
Speaking on Manuwere’s absence, coach Ian Gorowa said he had been excused due to club commitments.
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“We had decided to give him a chance to play for his country, but because of club commitments, he asked to be excused. His team has been playing in the Mozambican league, so they hinted that he was not going to make it after the match. Obviously, as a coach you would have made your plans, but now there is nothing we can do. We have to do without him,” Gorowa said.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach, in his first return to South Africa since taking over from Klaus Dieter Pagels, said his boys had not come for a holiday, but to intensify preparations for their next assignments.
“This match is going to give us a chance to blend our local-based players with their South Africa-based counterparts. This is one time that we have been waiting for since we took over as Warriors coaches,” Gorowa said.
He added: “It has been always my aim to have local-based players for competitions like Chan, but everyone knows very well that we have the Afcon 2015 qualifiers waiting for us. So if we have such chances, we should then utilise them.”
Warriors team manager Patrick Mutesva said he was happy with the way the team had travelled and the hospitality they had received from the hosts.
“Everything has been well despite the high temperatures that we are experiencing here. All is well in camp and the coaches are happy with the levels of fitness of the players,” he said.
The Warriors were scheduled to have one training session at tomorrow’s match venue at around 6pm.
The local contingent of players who made the trip are goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, defenders Hardlife Zvirekwi, Oscar Machapa, Felix Chindungwe, Erick Chipeta, Patson Jaure, midfielders Masimba Mambare, Danny Phiri, Peter Moyo and Silas Songani.
The last meeting between the two nations — November 15, 2011 — produced a 2-1 win for Zimbabwe via a Knowledge Musona double and the hosts will tonight certainly be looking to square the deficit.
In the previous year, Bafana Bafana had beaten the Warriors 3-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Meanwhile, Bafana midfielder Lerato Chabangu has withdrawn from the squad due to personal reasons.
South African Football Association media officer Matlhomola Morake confirmed the Moroka Swallows playmaker’s exit from the national camp yesterday.
Bafana Bafana ended their unsuccessful 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 4-1 drubbing of Botswana on Saturday.
