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Warriors win

Sport
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 in South Africa next month.

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 in South Africa next month.

FORTUNE MBELE,SPORTS REPORTER

After beating Mozambique’s 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.

Of the new players that played yesterday was Bantu Rovers skipper Nqobizitha Masuku, Buffaloes central defender Themba Ndlovu and Shabanie Mine midfielder Frankson Bushire, while Gorowa played substitutes Partson Jaure, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Bruce Kangwa and Sadiki in unfamiliar positions.

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

On some players in unfamiliar positions, Gorowa said: “It is good to have such kind of options. In my opinion, Milton Ncube is a left back, he is more reserved. As for Jaure there was not 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, he was thrust in the 61st minute, he played on the right back.

Mozambique coach Joao Chissano, who faces 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 can make surprises in the Chan tournament.

“We don’t have any pressure. It is South Africa and Nigeria who will be under pressure. We just want 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 substitution in the 69th minute changing the Mozambicans game for the worse. The Warriors scored through Simba Sithole (Dynamos) in the 10th minute, who received a pass from right-back Wonder Kapinda before he shrugged off a challenge from Mozambique’s Bernado Benedito Gormano before letting off a screamer inside the box which beat goalkeeper Terroz Logomale Nelson.

The second goal came in the 76th minute from substitute Sadiki after Ncube playing on the left back, cut in from the centre and sent Sadiki through and the FC Platinum 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 penalty awarded to the Mozambicans by local referee Ruzive Ruzive, who adjudged that Kapinda had fouled striker Guambo Saddam Abdul and 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)