Mapeza wary of Limpopo rivals

a tough night and has predicted a close affair when Zimbabwe and South Africa resume their rivalry in international friendly at Rufaro tonight.
The Southern African derby clash will get underway at 8pm.
It will be the 12th meeting between the two sides with the Warriors having won four of them, Bafana Bafana six, while the other one was drawn.
Mapeza insisted yesterday that he would not read much into the changes that have been made to the Bafana side in which their coach Pitso Mosimane decided to rest nine of his regulars.
They include Mamelodi Sundowns striker Katlego Mphela, Siphiwe Tshabalala, skipper Steven Pienaar, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Tsepo Masilela, Anele Ngcongca and Siyabonga Sangweni after they featured in the 1-1 draw against Cote d’Ivoire in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.
Ajax Cape Town midfielder Granwald Scott will also miss tonight’s match after failing to recover from injury.
Mapeza, however, sprung to the defence of Mosimane with the Warriors’ mentor saying he would have made a similar decision and “rest some of the regular players if I were to play two big games inside three days”.
The former Monomotapa coach was happy to see all his charges turn up for yesterday’s training at the match venue without any injury complaints and said he would continue to lobby for more such friendly matches for the Warriors.
“We need more of such games so that the players get used to what we want. So far we have called most of the guys that we think are going to take part in our next campaign because there is not much time for training and trying many new players.
“If we had played a game on Saturday I was going to do the what Pitso has done and I was going to give those players who have been playing in every qualifier a rest.
“To me it’s not because Pienaar or Mphela are not here therefore it’s a weak Bafana Bafana.
“I still think it’s going to be a very difficult game and we have to take them seriously,” Mapeza said.
The two coaches also later addressed a Press conference at a Harare hotel where they insisted that the match had not lost its glamour despite the changes that Mosimane has made and the former SuperSport United coach’s decision to hand Bafana caps to some young charges.
Mapeza said the Warriors, for whom TSG Hoffenheim striker Knowledge Musona will lead the attack, were also eager to preserve their unbeaten home run since the coach took over the reins.
“We have to preserve our home record because we have been trying to build a culture of winning at home.
“There is also the issue of the world rankings at stake and we would want to win and rise up on the Fifa rankings again.
“In fact whenever Zimbabwe and South Africa play nobody wants to lose,” said Mapeza who is expected to name a stand-in captain for tonight’s game in Method Mwanjali’s absence.
Mosimane said although he would hand an opportunity to some new players, his Bafana Bafana side felt honoured at playing against the Warriors.
“We are honoured to be invited here. We respect Zimbabwe because of our relationship outside football and in football.
“Matches between Zimbabwe and South Africa are always competitive.
“We expect a strong Zimbabwe . . we know what they are capable of, they a very tactically organised side, very technical and they hardly lose at home.
“We know that we are in the slaughter house and I also have a lot of respect for Norman from his days a player and we have met on some coaching forums and I believe he is a good coach that Zimbabwe need to keep,” Mosimane said.
The Bafana Bafana coach also spoke of the impact of the Warriors’ Super Diski contingent in tonight’s match.
“I think it gives the derby a bit of spice because the players know each other and we should have a very good game as a result of that,” Mosimane said.
Mosimane said Bafana Bafana’s matches against Cote d’Ivoire and the Warriors had heralded the start of their preparations for the 2014 World Cup qualifiers and the 2013 African Cup of Nations which South Africa will host.
“For me it is not just about the game but the opportunity to assess the players for 2013 Nations Cup.
“In 13 months time we are hosting the Nations Cup and in terms of months it may seem a very long way but if you look at the Fifa calendar you will see that the games are not enough for you to assess all the players so we have to start the preparations now.
“We would love to play Zimbabwe in South Africa also if the logistics permit because they have a lot of players in our league something could be worked out”.
Mosimane also predicted a tough night for his charges citing the presence of such players like Nyasha Mushekwi, Vusa Nyoni, Ovidy Karuru and Musona in the Warriors ensemble.
He also revealed that he had brought three-European based players and other experienced players like Teko Modise and Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Moneeb Josephs.
“Eight of the 18 players who were in the team last Saturday are here, three of them overseas based.
“But is it going to be tough, Karuru is unbelievable, Mushekwi is scoring every week against these same defenders, I like this big defender Veremu (Daniel) and of course Zimbabwe also have Musona who was playing in South Africa not so long ago, and if these players are in the starting line-up why should we not respect Zimbabwe,” Mosimane said.
But for all his defence, there is still a general feeling that the Bafana Bafana coach somewhat undermined the Warriors by making drastic changes and opting to use tonight’s match to try his rookies.
However for Mapeza, it should be an opportunity to get the Warriors back to winning ways and erase some of the bitter memories of their 2-1 defeat by Cape Verde in their final 2012 Nations Cup qualifier in Praia.