CAPE TOWN — Partson Jaure, the Zimbabwe skipper, has warned Uganda Cranes ahead of their January 16th Group B tie in the ongoing Africa Nations Championship on Thursday.
The defender told MTNFootball.com that after starting with a draw against the fancied Morocco team on Sunday, they are now determined to go all the way against Uganda.
“Yes, we respect Uganda, but we need the three points more than they do,” the Dynamos player said.
Jaure said they were lucky to watch Uganda’s game against Burkina Faso.
“We are very hungry to get our first win of the group and we know we can stop Uganda,” the confident skipper said.
The Cranes currently lead Group B after their 2-1 victory over Burkina Faso on Sunday night, while Zimbabwe and Morocco share second spot after their goalless draw in the group’s opening match.
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Zimbabwe coach Ian Gorowa also thinks his players have now cooled their nerves and will be ready to play their blend of football against Uganda.
“Always, an opening game of such a tournament puts players under lots of pressure, but now they have opened up and will be a better side on Thursday,” he said.
While Zimbabwe will face Uganda Cranes in the opening match on Thursday, Morocco will be out to prove a point when they take on Burkina Faso in the second Group B game of the day.
The Warriors were undone by four clear chances during the match against Morocco.
Donald Ngoma missed twice, while Simba Sithole hit the post before Ali Sadiki bundled the rebound against the goalkeeper.
Meanwhile, Gorowa has said South African side Mamelodi Sundowns should not miss the chance of signing midfielder Kudakwashe Mahachi.
The gifted Chicken Inn player has been on Sundowns’ radar for some time.
“He has been on trials with Sundowns and they should not waste any more time, but sign him quickly,” Gorowa — who has experience of the South African League — told MTNFootball.com after the game at the Athlone Stadium in Cape Town.
Gorowa explained that having spent years playing in the South African League and also having coached here, he thinks Mahachi is the kind of player who can match to the expectations of many teams here.
“He is a talented player with a big heart although his finishing touch needs to improve,” the former Ajax Cape Town assistant coach added.
The player explained that he is waiting to hear from Sundowns: “I cannot predict what will happen, but I am ready for the challenge if they sign me.”
But his coach Gorowa added that even if they don’t sign Mahachi, he has six players on the current team who should attract the attention of several South African teams.
He said Zimbabwe players do not find it hard to adjust to the South African League and style of play.
Meanwhile, Uganda put themselves in the driving seat for a place in the African Nations Championship knockout phase following a 2-1 win over Burkina Faso in Sunday’s round of Group B openers.
The Cranes made the breakthrough against the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations finalists early on, with Yunus Sentamu getting his name on the scoresheet after just 15 minutes.
The forward then completed his brace 13 minutes from time to put Milutin Sredojevic’s men clear at the top of the four-team table, with the Burkinabes left at the foot, despite Cyrille Bayala’s 88th minute consolation.
Cranes coach Milutin “Micho” Sredojevic has said he is happy they have written history by winning their first Chan tie ever.
“This is history that has been made because Uganda did not win a single game at the 2011 edition in Khartoum, Sudan,” Micho told MTNFootball.com.
The win took Micho’s team to top of the group after Zimbabwe and Morocco settled for a goalless draw in an earlier match.
“We need to go out and write more history by winning more and more games. Facing Zimbabwe on January 16 will not be that easy, but we are going back to the drawing board to prepare well,” the Serb said.
The former Orlando Pirates and St George (Ethiopia) coach said he was very proud of the 19-year-old striker Junior Yunus Sentamu, who scored the two goals for the team.
“It was Sentamu’s first time on a plane out of Uganda and he has scored two goals. This guy is the future of Ugandan football,” the coach added.
Micho said although many people thought he had picked Sentamu too early for international action, he has always had faith in him and was vindicated on the pitch against Burkina Faso.
Micho, however, stressed that Sentamu should not fly in the air because he has scored two goals, but should work harder to benefit himself and the national team.
Speaking about the defensive lapse in the second half, Micho said they have to go back and correct the mistakes.
He praised the maturity of Hassan Wasswa Mawanda, who stood firm against the Burkina Faso players in the midfield and the general team work of the team. After the Zimbabwe game, the Cranes will face Morocco on January 20 in their last group game at the Cape Town Stadium. — MTN Football/Sports Reporter