Barry Daka
Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors technical director Barry Daka has called on the girls to go all out in attack while guarding their rear jealously when they face off against Canada in their second Group F match at the Olympics this evening. The match kicks off at 8PM Zimbabwean time. Zimbabwe lost their opening match 1-6 against Germany but their performance warmed many hearts across the globe including the Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhosini Hlongwane.
He said the performance was proof enough that the Mighty Warriors were now one of the strongest sides in Africa. “A perusal of German’s historical footprint shows a cemetery of dead football teams slain mercilessly by the world’s number two team,” said Minister Hlongwane.
In a 2007 World Cup match, Germany pummelled Argentina 11-0 while during last year’s finals Cote d’Ivoire received 10 without reply and in their last friendly match before the Olympics, the Germans clobbered Ghana 11-0. Daka said the girls must not give the Canadians the same unnecessary respect they gave to the Germans where they rarely went forward.
“We proved with the goal we scored against Germany that when we go forward we are a deadly lot so I would want to urge them to go for it, they shouldn’t hold back like what happened in our first match. We, however, also need to be vigilant at the back as we go forward,” said Daka who was shockingly left out of the travelling party when the final delegation was released.
“I am not in Brazil in person but I can assure you that I am there in spirit and I want the whole nation to rally behind these girls,” said the veteran coach. He said the girls need to avoid an early goal from the Canadians and in the event that they score first, they must look for the second one too instead of trying to defend the solitary goal.
“This is a fight and in a fight you must also throw punches so lets make sure we throw as many punches as possible,” said Daka. Meanwhile, the Canadians turned to music as they prepared for the duel against Zimbabwe tonight. They are, however, aware of the dangers of undermining Zimbabwe.
“We can’t take them lightly,we have to forget about (the Australia win) and focus mentally. For sure, (they’re) unpredictable as a team. We know they’re very physical. We know they’re physically fit as well,” said veteran striker Melissa Tancredi while speaking to The Globe and Mail newspaper of Canada.