Mambare challenges teammates

Augustine Hwata Sports Reporter
WARRIORS skipper Masimba Mambare has challenged his teammates to raise the bar and sharpen their shooting boots if they entertain any hopes of sailing past Zambia in the African Nations Championship qualifier at Rufaro this Sunday. Mambare’s 85th minute goal gave Zimbabwe the lead during the first round, second leg qualifier against Mauritius at Rufaro before the visitors rallied from behind to snatch a draw.
Zimbabwe wasted numerous scoring chances against the minnows who were happy to bow out of the competition with their heads high after Winny Calambe’s goal in the 89th minute.

The meeting between Zimbabwe and Zambia will be the second Battle of the Zambezi within a month after the two sides clashed in the Cosafa Castle Cup final last month.

Mambare believes the Warriors have a chance to book their berth in the CHAN 2014 finals in South Africa.
The Warriors were given a day off yesterday following their 4-1 aggregate win over Mauritius and team manager Patrick Mutesva said they will regroup this morning.

“I think we will have a light training session at Prince Edward in the morning before another workout at Rufaro in the afternoon,” said Muteswa.
Skipper Mambare, who also missed several scoring chances on Sunday, said they need to be ruthless in front of goal.

“I think it’s all about scoring goals that wins matches. If we create chances like what we did against Mauritius then it will be okay.
“In games like these, we need to bury the opponents in the first 15 or 20 minutes. We failed to do that against Mauritius and they gained confidence to fight back.
“In the first 15 minutes, we were fighting against complacency,” said Mambare.

Mambare thought he had earned a penalty when he went down under a challenge from Mauritian skipper Colin Bell in the eighth minute but referee Samuel Chirinza cautioned the Zimbabwean for simulation.

Goalkeeper Jose Marve then pulled off a fine save to thwart the hosts in the 15th minute. Triangle leftback Blessing Chimwamuchere, who was making his debut for the Warriors, tried a long range effort that went wide before CAPS United’s Hardlife Zvirekwi came close in the box.

Chimwamuchere believes he made a positive impression in his first game for the national team.
The former Buymore and Motor Action player was thrust into the team following the unavailability of the Dynamos duo of Ocean Mushure and Augustine Mbara.
Mushure pulled out of the team because of a hamstring while Mbara was excused, because of a family bereavement, leaving Chimwamuchere as the only natural leftback in camp.

“My debut game for the national team was okay and I would like to believe that I did well considering that this was my first game.
“I understand that some players panic but I was not overwhelmed by the occasion.

“Even after the game the coach told me that I had done well.
“I thank God for guiding me through my football career. In the past I had received calls to the Under-23 team under Friday Phiri but I never made the final team.
“My chance has now came and I hope to continue to impress the coaches so that I am back in the team.” Midfielder Peter Moyo, who made a couple of good moves, also failed to find the target in the opening half while Nelson Maziwisa should have grabbed, at least, a brace.

Warriors coach Ian Gorowa sought to add impetus in midfield as he brought in Tawanda Muparati for Charles Sibanda while Tendai Ndoro replaced Milton Ncube.
Another second half substitute Ali Sadiki engineered the goal when he beat two Mauritian players on the left flank before curling a cross for Muparati, who then fed Mambare to slot home.

“We are doing everything by creating those chances but we need to score against Zambia,” said Mambare.
“During training, finishing should be one area we have to work hard on. We also need composure in the box.
“We have a good squad of talented youngsters who can go all the way.”

Gorowa was also left worried by the glut of chances his player missed.
“We failed to convert the chances. It’s one things not utilising your chances and it’s another thing not creating those chances.
“It’s a plus on us for creating the chances,” said Gorowa.

After giving away a soft goal on Sunday, Gorowa warned his players against “making it a habit to concede goals, especially at international level.”