Bulls to fight for survival

By Eddie Chikamhi
MOTOR ACTION will be out to stay alive in their maiden Champions League campaign when they square off with fellow continental lightweights Cnaps Sports of Madagascar in the second leg of their preliminary round qualifier in Antananarivo tomorrow.
The Mighty Bulls go into battle in need of victory to enhance their chances of making the first round stage after suffering a setback when they lost the first leg 1-0 at Rufaro two weeks ago.
Striker Yvan Rajoarihanana scored deep in injury time after the hosts had put on a disappointing show on home soil.
The Mighty Bulls now hope to erase that deficit in unfamiliar conditions on the Indian Ocean island after failing to capitalise on home advantage in the opener.
The club left the country via Kenya in the early hours on Thursday after their trip had appeared in doubt due to the unavailability of money for air-tickets.
But Joey Antipas and his men now find themselves with a mammoth task of winning the match by scoring at least two goals to ensure their safety.
Antipas, a former Warriors assistant coach, acknowledged the difficult position the Mighty Bulls now find themselves in but remained optimistic of the team’s chances.
“It’s not over yet. I think we had the wrong mental attitude when we played them in the first leg.
“We have spoken about it with the players. Now as we go there, it is our hope that we are hoping to do better,” said Antipas.
A draw or another defeat will not do the Mighty Bulls any good.
If they win 1-0 the tie will have to be settled through a penalty shootout but a 2-1, 3-2 or 4-3 victory will see them through courtesy of the away goals rule.
Antipas will be looking up to his strikers Kuda Musharu, Enasio Perezo, Tawanda Nyamandwe and Edmore Chitato to fire the goals that the team badly want.
He will also hope that the midfield department will be more creative and be able to supply clean balls upfront while maintaining a tight defence.The current Bulls squad lack creative midfielders and Antipas could give Allen Gahadzikwa the free role in the absence of Thembani Masuku who was left behind after pulling a muscle during the training this           week.
Antipas also got a boost with the return of William Kupera after recuperation from the injury that forced him out of the first leg           match.
Chitato is also likely to get a starting place supporting one of the main strikers while Musharu could get thumps up to operate the left wing.
Motor Action Probable line-up:
M. Jani, P. Bernard, O. Mushure, T. Ndlovu, S. Mutenheri, E. Tembo, A. Gahadzikwa, I. Masame, E. Chitato, E. Perezo, K. Musharu