Online Reporter
Bruce Chikunu
Sports Reporter
FORMER Warriors captain Willard Katsande feels Zimbabwe will have a lesser problem following the late withdrawal of Bafana Bafana’s wing wizard Rele Mofokeng ahead of their World Cup qualifier clash on Friday.
Zimbabwe will host South Africa at Moses Mabhida in Durban before wrapping what will be another forgettable campaign with a fixture against Lesotho in Polokwane.
Zimbabwe have racked up four points in eight assignments. Mofokeng was initially in Hugo Broos plans for the crunch match against the Warriors but he was replaced by Mduduzi Shabalala after he picked an injury.
The battle of Limpopo will have a huge say on South Africa’s fate in their bid to book their slot for the 2026 World Cup.
South Africa were in firm control of their destiny in the Group C until FIFA docked them three points for fielding a suspended player.
They are now tied at the top with Benin who have accumulated 14 points.
South Africa’s last hurdle will be against Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday.
Mofokeng has been one of the better players for Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana.
Katsande insisted that Broos will have limited options on the wings where Mofokeng has been flourished in Bafana Bafana colours.
“Mofokeng is a quality player, very unpredictable, dangerous with the ball on his feet and his exclusion is a bonus to the Warriors to a greater extent.
“He might not have featured on their last game against Nigeria but having him on the bench was always going to be an advantage to Broos even if he was not planning to start him against Zimbabwe’” said Katsande.
Katsande also highlighted the area that he feels South Africa might be dominant if Micheal Nees does not act.
“South Africa are too effective because they play as a team, but their game plan as has been on the wing-play.
“They are always using width to penetrate their opponents and if you give them too much space they can hit you with counterattacks.
“Their wingers are intelligent, and they make timed runs and sometimes they stay wide and high something which might give Nees problems,” he said.
Mathew Masinge