Kaitano rallies Warriors

travel to Luanda tonight for a date with Angola on Sun­day, needing to hold their nerve and defend the 3-1 cushion they have from the first leg at Rufaro on September 9.
Tembo, a former Warriors vice-cap­tain who featured in the only two Nations Cup appearances that the Zimbabwe have taken part in, in Tunisia (2004) and Egypt (2006), yes­terday weighed in with his voice of support and special message to the senior side.
The former Dynamos centre back, now an assistant coach at SuperSport United said the Warriors needed to derive greater motivation from the fact that they were carrying a two-goal lead which they can successfully pre­serve with greater determination and focus.
Tembo, who travelled the length and breadth of Africa for many bruis­ing battles for Dynamos, Zimbabwe and SuperSport United, warned the Warriors to expect a hostile environ­ment in Luanda but rallied Gumbo’s men to invoke “the resilience that Zimbabweans are known for’’ in this big battle.
Qualification for the Nations Cup, Tembo also said is often a life-chang­ing experience for players as it could reap huge rewards for their careers.
“This is the biggest opportunity for the players who have never been to the Nations Cup to write their names in the history books of Zimbabwean football.
“They should go out there knowing that as Zimbabweans we are hard workers, fighters and we are not easily intimidated. We should go there with one thing in mind and that is qualifi­cation,’’ Tembo said.
The former Warriors’ hardman said the victory, which the Warriors achieved at Rufaro, had helped them to virtually put one foot into the finals and reckoned that they have the pedi­gree to preserve it in those “90 min­utes of hell’’ at the 11 November sta­dium in Luanda.
Tembo urged stand-in skipper Esrom Nyandoro and his troops to ensure they are not distracted by any mind games or dirty tricks their oppo­nents may want to play on them.
“We are carrying a two goal advan­tage which is a motivation on its own. We should not focus on any negatives and be positive because it is going to be a battle which will require together­ness and good work ethic on the field in order for us to pull through’’.
Tembo also challenged Zimbab­weans to throw their full weight behind the country’s flagship football team during their hour of reckoning.
“Let all Zimbabweans rally behind the technical team in all the decisions they are going to make. I wish the Warriors all the best and please make us proud’’.
Tembo, who also featured for the Warriors in a number of Nations Cup and Cosafa Cup battles in Luanda, spoke about the atmosphere that will greet the senior team on Sunday.
“Angolans fans are very passionate about soccer and they will try and intimidate us hence we have to go out there and with a fighting mentality and be calm and the same time not putting ourselves under unnecessary pressure’’.
Tembo said the Warriors also stand to make a huge impact at the Nations Cup scheduled for January — Febru­ary given the influx of Zimbabwean players plying their trade in the South African leagues.
“It will make a big impact if we qual­ify considering that the PSL here has a lot of Zimbabweans playing in the Absa Premiership and some who are in the lower leagues.
“There are also a lot of ordinary Zimbabweans who are working in this country and it would be a huge disap­pointment for them if we do not qual­ify.
“Zimbabweans love their football and it will be easier for them to travel to watch a Nations Cup tournament in South Africa and to come and support the Warriors,’’ said Tembo.
In the week that Gumbo and his men upped their preparations for the biggest battle of their 2013 Nations Cup qualifying bid, they also received the support from swimming icon Kirsty Coventry and their former number one goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar.
Coventry who also watched the first leg at Rufaro, visited the Warriors dur­ing their morning training at the Ital­ian Sports Club on Wednesday to offer he support and later noted that the best way to back the team was by ensuring that “we all avoid putting the team under any pressure’’.
Legendary former Liverpool goal­keeper Grobbelaar also took to Face­book to rally the Warriors to emerge from Luanda victorious and book their place among  Africa’s 16 best teams who will line up at next year’s Nations Cup finals.