adminnational pride.
Zimbabwe are currently bottom of Group G with one point while Egypt lead the pack with nine.
However, the Warriors however were reminded on Thursday evening at a reception hosted by the Zifa board attended by representatives of the Zimbabwe Football Trust, the Golden Jubilee celebrations committee and board members, that the battle was not over.
In a message of encouragement delivered by Zifa board member finance, Elliot Kasu on behalf of the association’s president, Zifa urged the players to take the match seriously in their quest to improve rankings and boost confidence in the rebuilding exercise.
“I have heard that some are saying it’s a dead-rubber.
“It’s not true and that must be washed out of our minds.
“This is not a dead-rubber,” said Dube.
“To us it’s a fully competitive match which we want to win at all costs.
“There are so many benefits for winning this match. The benefits will also accrue to you because it is a time to market yourselves as individuals. It is time for us to improve our rankings which were distorted by Asiagate.
“Imagine at one stage we were 39th in the world but today we are ranked outside the top 100?
“We want to move back to where we belong so this match has full value for us and also gives us hope as a nation in our rebuilding exercise.
“Let me tell you something that might not have considered. This match has an international picture as it will be followed in parts of the continent. This weekend the whole of Guinea will be rallying behind the Warriors and I think you know the reason why.
“And by the time we go to Guinea, the whole Egypt will be behind us, so all our remaining matches have an international appeal and we must treat them seriously.”
Chairman of the Zimbabwe Football Trust, Tshinga Dube, said the team should strive for excellence to attract support from the corporate world.
He added that the Trust has committed itself fully to harness resources for the team to fulfill all their fixtures.
Online Reporter