Wenslus Murape
Tadious Manyepo, Sports Reporter
WHICH of the Warriors will be celebrating tonight?
The original Warriors or the Brave Warriors?
Both are homeless right now and, across theIr borders in South Africa today, they will try to get a victory which will boost their 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign.
The match kicks-off at 3pm at the Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg.
It is today’s game that either side will go all out to win but with Namibia making it a closed-door event, where fans are not permitted, the fixture will be played under queer circumstances last seen during the years when the world was reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic.
That won’t sway the Warriors in any way though with coach Michael Nees urging the team to play right in Namibia’s faces.
“Difficult match, Covid atmosphere,” said Nees yesterday.
“We have prepared for a tough match because Namibia is a team that has improved over many years.
“But they started the qualification with two defeats but nevertheless we analysed their strengths and they have good players from the (South African Premiership).
“It will be an exciting game, unfortunately, without spectators.
“Our team is a bit more complex. Today (yesterday) is the first day where we had everyone in a fit condition.
“One session, one hour before a game, you can conclude by yourself that it is not enough but we were in Uganda with the majority of these players and we can bank on that.”
He added:
“But it’s very challenging, the calendar is packed up to the limit. It’s unfortunate that this match comes on a Thursday.
“We cannot change it. We have to accept the situation and do the best out of it.”
Zimbabwe have two points from their opening two games against Kenya and Cameroon played in Uganda last month.
Namibia have no points after losing their two games against the same opponents.
However, both were narrow losses.
Cameroon needed a controversial goal, scored from an offside position, late in the game to beat Namibia 1-0 in West Africa while Kenya edged the Brave Warriors 2-1.
“There are two games, six points at stake and our target is that we have a November qualification and we have destiny in our own hands.
“We can decide or determine our own fate. Even if we win the two games, the group wouldn’t be decided yet.
“And, even if we can get only two points the group might not be decided. So, we mustn’t over-interpret the significance of the game.
“There are six points at stake and we want to have a positive record against them for sure,” said Nees.
Mathew Masinge