ZIMBABWE international striker Cuthbert Malajila has welcomed the decision by the Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) to shift the Group L 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea on Sunday to Rufaro.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA The Warriors have played most of their matches at the giant National Sports Stadium, but the matches played there have been weighing heavily against them recently.
Zimbabwe lost to Guinea, Egypt and Zambia, while the lowly ranked Taifa Stars of Tanzania snatched a 2-2 draw, booting the Warriors out of the race for the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Gabon.
On the other hand, on the few occasions they have played at Rufaro, the Warriors have turned it into a fortress — that even Mali with all their galaxy of stars — struggled for fluency when they visited to Harare for an African Cup of Nations qualifying match in 2011.
Former Real Madrid star, Mahamadou Diarra failed to impose himself and as frustration built,he was shown a straight red by South African referee Daniel Bennet two minutes into stoppage time for punching Tapuwa Kapini, who kept goal for the Warriors.
The Warriors had by that time virtually won the match courtesy of a double by Knowledge Musona.And Malajila, who has been involved in battles at Rufaro for either the Warriors or Dynamos, believes the fans will play a key role at the more compact stadium, as Zimbabwe bids to beat Guinea and enhance their chances of qualifying for the finals.
“We welcome the decision to have the match played at Rufaro. We rarely lose at Rufaro unlike at the National Sports Stadium. You feel the fans at Rufaro. You can hear them cheering you on. I can’t exactly remember when we last lost at Rufaro, but I know we always play well there and this was a good decision to have the match against Guinea played here,”Malajila said.
He scored one of Zimbabwe’s goals in the 2-1 victory away to Malawi n June and believes the victory has given them confidence going into Sunday’s match.
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“It was a good victory away to Malawi but now we are playing at home and we can give it our best,” Malajila said.
The Mamelodi Sundowns man is enjoying his football with the Brazilians, banging in two goals since the start of the season.
The Warriors are joint Group L leaders with Swaziland on three points and need a win at home to enhance their chances of qualification.
Swaziland shocked Guinea 2-1 in June.
Meanwhile, Warriors kingpin Knowledge Musona arrived in the country yesterday for the crunch tie.
