adminEddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
Warriors team manager Shariff Mussa has stressed the need for physical fitness ahead of the Africa Nations Championships to be held in South Africa next year.
The team has dedicated most of their time to the gym since they began their preparations this week with 27 members in camp. The Warriors appear to remain focused despite the dark cloud that hung over their camp after they failed to get supper on Wednesday and had to be bailed out by Gorowa.
The technical side, led by Ian Gorowa, had called 30 players last week but had to drop Highlanders leftback Bruce Kangwa who asked to be excused while Misheck Mburayi and Peter Moyo are still to join the rest of their teammates. The duo is in South Africa where they are taking part in trials and should be returning this weekend. Despite the setback, the Warriors continued to with their preparations yesterday and Mussa said they would not want to be found wanting when the tournament kicks off on January 11.
Zimbabwe were placed in Group B that also includes Morocco, Burkina Faso and Uganda. “It’s going to be a long tournament so we would need to be physically fit to last the distance. These gym sessions are very crucial for strengthening and conditioning our players. Our players need to pick up more muscle while others have to lose the extra fat they could have gained. It’s good that we are just coming from our football season and most of the players are still fit. All we may need to do is to sharpen and keep them conditioned,” said Mussa.
The Warriors are having to do with a home-based camp after efforts by Gorowa to camp in South Africa were turned down by Zifa.
“So we started with a gym workout in the morning and then we had some field activities. We had another field session in the afternoon and finished off at the gym again. That has been the routine and we hope to continue with that,” said Musa.
The Warriors have been doing their fitness training at Innovate High Performance Centre where they have access to first class facilities for effective workouts.
The technical team has until January 1 to finalise their 22-member squad.
The Warriors will be hoping for third time lucky to make their mark at the tournament after failing to progress from the group stages at the last two editions.
Mussa said the Warriors are hoping to engage Gabon in a friendly in Johannesburg ahead of their opening match.
The Warriors technical team feel they are behind schedule and they are hoping to get more than one practice match once in South Africa to get their combinations right.
Zimbabwe had their last friendly international against Mozambique early this month which they won 2-1.
“I am told that the secretariat is working on some possible friendly games possibly with other countries in South Africa but that hasn’t been confirmed as yet.
“It’s still in its infancy, I presume, but that would be welcome if it materialises,” said Mussa.
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