WARRIORS coach Marian Marinica believes the hostile atmosphere at Barbourfields Stadium provided ideal mental preparation ahead of their Mukuru Four Nations Tournament semi-final clash against Botswana in Francistown tomorrow.
The Warriors, who had been camped in Bulawayo, left for Botswana yesterday.
The other semi-final will see Malawi take on Zambia.
A youthful Warriors side settled for a goalless draw against Highlanders FC at Barbourfields on Wednesday, as Marinica continues to rebuild the squad for future assignments.
The Romanian said the charged atmosphere at BF offered the kind of psychological test his side needed ahead of facing the hosts.
“It was fantastic because we wanted a bit of pressure because when we go to Botswana, we will play in front of their crowd,” he said.
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“We wanted a little bit of fights. I think the crowd gave us something although they supported their heroes. We wanted a bit of this mental pressure.
“But at the same time, you see, we actually won because we also had some of their players (Andrew Mbeba and Mongameli Tshuma).”
He added: “So I think this was something that was absolutely welcome and we wanted to get this mental pressure, psychological pressure and I think that has been achieved as well.”
Marinica started with goalkeeper Marley Tavaziva, while Ishe Mauchi and Corbin Mthunzi anchored central defence.
Mbeba began at right-back before shifting into central defence, allowing Mthunzi to move wide, with Godwin Murwira operating on the left.
Tshuma, Panashe Makwiramiti and Prosper Madera featured in midfield, while Washington Navaya, Daniel Msendami and Jarrison Selemani led the attack.
The Warriors struggled to assert control in midfield, where Highlanders trio Rainsome Pavari, Darlington Mukuli and Prince Ndlovu dominated, with the latter troubling the national team defence.
Second-half introductions included Marvelous Nakamba, Bill Antonio, Macauley Bonne, Junior Zindonga, Jonah Fabisch, Munashe Garananga, Emmanuel Jalai and goalkeeper Future Sibanda, but the Warriors still found it difficult to break down a spirited Highlanders side.
Teenage Hadebe and Elvis Chipezeze did not feature, with some players only arriving in camp on match day.
Botswana coach Morena Ramoreboli has assembled a squad of locally-based players as he also undertakes a rebuilding exercise.
The Mukuru Four Nations Tournament is a Fifa-sanctioned competition with ranking points at stake.