IT WON’T BE EASY BUT WE WILL TRY, SAYS JALAI

Langton Nyakwenda

Zimpapers Sports Hub

EMMANUEL Jalai says they are not taking Nsingizini Hotspurs coach Mandla Qhogi’s warning lightly ahead of their CAF Champions League preliminary round tie at the Somhlolo National Stadium on Saturday.

Mabviravira edged 10-man Nsingizini 1-0 at the National Sports Stadium last Sunday.

Jalai provided the assist for Cameroonian striker Neville Tengeg but visiting coach, Mandla Qhogi, issued a stern warning soon after that game.

“I’ll ask them (Scottland) to call Simba Bhora and ask them for a plan, because we’re not going to be an easy game.

“We stand a chance. The game is open, we can still score more goals,” warned Qhogi.

Nsingizini knocked Simba Bhora out of the CAF Champions League last season, winning 4-2 on penalties after the two preliminary legs had ended 1-1 on aggregate.

The Zimbabweans could have scored at least three goals at the National Sports Stadium, in a game Jalai was rampaging down the right flank.

“It’s going to be a tough game because they will come all out on us,” Jalai told Zimpapers Sports Hub from Johannesburg, South Africa, where Scottland are camping ahead of Saturday’s game.

“But, we are Scottland, we are the Zimbabwean champions so we have to prove that by qualifying for the next round.

“We have to fight until the last drop of blood, we have to do our best to raise the Zimbabwean flag higher.

“We are obliged to repay the investment by the club owners and sponsors,” added Jalai.

The last time an international football match had been played at the National Sports Stadium was on November 14, 2021, when Zimbabwe drew 1-1 against Ethiopia in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

“It was a great feeling, especially playing on home soil, after a long period of time.

“It was a great atmosphere,” said Jalai.

The former Dynamos skipper admitted Nsingizini were difficult because of the tactics they employed at the National Sports Stadium.

“Playing a low block team is always difficult, so we had to be patient in the final third.

“But, credit goes to the guys for pushing extra hard for us to get the win and also keeping a clean sheet,” said Jalai.

Scottland are expected in Eswatini tomorrow when they are supposed to feel turf at the Somhlolo Stadium in Mbabane.