“We need to be totally focused from the very first minute, we don’t want a repeat of what happened during the Guinea match”
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS’ coach Callisto Pasuwa has urged his charges to stay focused from the first whistle so as to avoid the Guinea mistake when they take on Lesotho in an African Nations Championship qualifier at Barbourfields Stadium tomorrow.
Zimbabwe’s first choice goalkeeper Washington Arubi conceded a howler moments after the start of the Nations Cup encounter with Guinea in Harare last month and probably still haunted by that Arubi mistake that robbed him of three points, Pasuwa yesterday called for total concentration from his side.
“We need to be totally focused from the very first minute, we don’t want a repeat of what happened during the Guinea match,” said the history making former Dynamos gaffer.
Lesotho said they will attack from the first touch as they search for an away goal that will make the return leg back in Maseru much easier but
Pasuwa, who has some injury worries in his camp, said what they need to do is to just keep their shape and avoid playing to the demands of their opponents.
“We are playing at home, infront of our supporters, we need to keep our shape and once we do that, our opponents might find it difficult to score, we will not concede,” he said.
Two of Zimbabwe’s key defenders Teenage Hadebe and Blessing Moyo are still carrying injuries with Pasuwa saying they will use this morning’s training session at Barbourfields Stadium to see if they can throw them into the fray.
“Our last training session is tomorrow (today) at BF where we are also expected to drop three players from the 21 we have but we will only do that after getting a medical opinion from the team doctors even though I am confident that they will make it,” said Pasuwa, who is assisted by Nation Dube and Saul Chaminuka.
From yesterday’s training session at White City Stadium, Highlanders’ Hadebe and Chicken Inn’s Lawrence Moyo could be the two central defenders while the duo of Dynamos’ Blessing Moyo and Ocean Mushure will operate from the right and left back respectively.
Skipper Danny Phiri will take care of issues from the defensive midfield position while Highlanders Bruce Kangwa will play in the same role that former Highlanders coach Bongani Mafu used him on which is the left midfield link.
FC Platinum’s Marshal Mudehwe and Highlanders Nqobizitha Masuku, will complete the midfield deployment. Dynamos’ Rodrick Mutuma looks set to be the out and out striker with any of the country’s leading marksmen Knox Mutizwa and Edmore Chirambadare playing just behind him.