adminteam which was announced by coach Rose Mugadza yesterday.
Zimbabwe will take on the Olympic finalists in the first practice match on Saturday before they meet again on Tuesday as South Africa fine tune their squad which would be participating at the African Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea starting from October 28.
Yesterday, Mighty Warriors assistant coach Yohane Chikaola said they are fully prepared and are taking the matches seriously.
“We are using the matches to prepare for the next year’s World Cup qualifiers and we want our team to be fully prepared.
“The game came at the right time and it would be serious business for us.
“We have been working much on ball positions as South Africans are very skillful and we will not allow them to play their normal game and we try and frustrate them. Two new players have made it into the team new to hard work and we have dropped players such as Rufaro Machingura who is not feeling well and other players like Greater Bande and Locadia Mugavazi,” said Chikaola.
South Africa would be playing their first international match after participating at the London Summer Games where they did not perform well but are shifting their focus back to the continental piece as they bid to win their first ever African title.
Nigeria, who booted Zimbabwe in the qualifiers have won Afcon for a record seven times, while this year’s hosts Equatorial Guinea won it once when they hosted it 2008 and would be hoping to emulate that feat again.
The last time the two sides met in the Unity Day Cup last December, Zimbabwe beat South Africa 3-0 as the Mighty Warriors now begin some dominance over their rivals.
Last year, also saw the Mighty Warriors beating Banyana Banyana for the first time in the Cosafa Championship final 1-0.
And South Africa Joseph Mkhonza told the media there that the clash against their neighbours will help them as they prepare for the tournament.
“We are just weeks away from competing in a highly-ranked competition on the continent, so our goal now is to prepare to take on the best countries on the continent. We are ranked fourth on the continent and we look to claim the number one title. We are not expecting an easy task ahead as all our opponents will try to prove their worth against a team that comes from the Olympics.
“We have taken some positives out of competing on the Olympics level and will be building on from there as we look to qualify for the next world cup. The upcoming game against Zimbabwe will help us gauge our fitness level and help us identify areas that we still need to work before we leave for Equatorial Guinea,” said Mkhonza.
Team:
Onai Chingawo, Chido Dzingirai, Eunice Chibanda, Danai Bhobho, Sicelo Dube, Patience Mujuru, Ruvimbo Mutyavaviri, Talent Mandaza, Marjoury Nyaumwe, Emmaculate Msipa, Nokuthula Ndlovu, Felistas Muzongondi, Rudo Neshamba, Rutendo Makore, Erina Jeke, Kuda Basopo, Rejoice Kamumvuti, Samukelisiwe Zulu.
Online Reporter