Mwanjali’s big plea

and to be patient with them when they square off against Mali in an African Cup of Nations showdown at Rufaro on Sunday.
Mwanjali, handed the team’s captaincy following the retirement of Benjani Mwaruwari, said yesterday the Warriors needed the support of the entire nation when they battle against the Eagles.

A bumper crowd is expected for the Warriors’ homecoming show at Rufaro where Zifa have kept the entrance charges to a reasonable US$3 for the rest of the ground, US$10 for the Upper Grandstand, US$15 for the VIP and US$30 for the VVIP arena.
Mwanjali acknowledged that pressure had mounted on the Warriors following a three-match winless run, which included two draws against Liberia and Cape Verde, and a 1-0 defeat by Mali in Bamako on March 26.

That barren spell has also left the Warriors hanging in third place in the group which is topped by surprise packages Cape Verde.
The run has also left gaffer Norman Mapeza and Mwanjali searching for their first Nations Cup victories in their capacities as coach and captain, having combined to lead the Warriors to qualification for the 2011 African Nations Championships in Sudan in February.

But the Mamelodi Sundowns utility man yesterday revealed that despite a faltering campaign, the Warriors were still upbeat about their chances of downing the Eagles and reckoned they had learnt from the mistakes they made when they lost 1-0 in their first encounter with the West Africans in Bamako.

“I think we are used to pressure but I also feel that it will be difficult if the fans boo the boys because we also have some youngsters in the team and they may not be able to fully express themselves if they are booed and put under so much pressure.

“I think we have a lot of senior players who know how to handle games of this nature but it is my special appeal to Zimbabweans to be fully behind us and we can make it,” Mwanjali said.
Mwanjali, still to play at the Nations Cup finals, having been ruled out of contention for the 2006 tournament in Egypt because of a shoulder injury, also revealed that he was eager to be the second skipper after Peter Ndlovu to lead Zimbabwe to the continental soccer showpiece.

“On a personal note I always look back to our success in the Cosafa Cup and CHAN qualifiers and as a player and captain I feel those achievements would not be enough if I do not lead the team to the AFCON”.
Mwanjali was the class leader when the Warriors, then under Sunday Chidzambwa, won the Cosafa Senior Challenge on home soil in 2009 and sealed their place at the CHAN finals under Mapeza a year later.

The former CAPS United defender is also hopeful that the players in the squad, which has been reduced to 21 following the withdrawals of Esrom Nyandoro and Noel Kaseke, would transform their good club form to the Warriors.

“If you look at our players, most of them have been doing well at their clubs and I think that should help us on Sunday.
“I think it will come down to how we gel as a team but I do not doubt the talent that we have and if we bring in the club form that most of them have shown then we should not go wrong.

“In Mali we didn’t play well especially in the first half and we made a mistake that cost us the goal but this time we will be cautious and at the same time attack them”.
Mwanjali also believes the Warriors will have little problems returning to the artificial turf at Rufaro.

“We will try to do our best, a lot of the players have played at this stadium before and we should have no problems.”
Mwanjali also spared a thought for of the Warriors’ key men such as Onismor Bhasera, Nyandoro and Kaseke who are missing through injury.

“We would have loved them to be here for this very big game but the losses of players like Onismor and Esrom is a big blow to the nation.
“But I also believe that is a chance for whoever is given the opportunity to step up and show that they can also do the job,” Mwanjali said.

Coach Mapeza also ruled out making last minute calls to replace Nyandoro and Kaseke and reckoned that he still had enough arsenal among the 21 players in camp.
“Everyone who is supposed to be here now is here after the arrivals of Quincy Antipas, Marlon Jani and Qadr Amini.

“We do not have much time to call in more players so will work with those we have now,” Mapeza said.
Just like Mwanjali, Mapeza acknowledged the pressure that will be on the Warriors when they troop into battle but insisted they had remained focussed and would try to win the game “for everyone associated with this team”.

“The pressure is on us but I have been there as a footballer and I think most the guys have experienced pressure either in Europe or South Africa and even here. We all know the importance of this game to us as the technical team, to the players and to the whole nation and we will try our best to make our country proud. It is also something that we discussed at length on Monday night.

“The fans have to be patient, we know that the goals have not been coming and it is something that we have been working very hard on and we hope that on Sunday we will get the goals,” Mapeza said.
The Warriors coach, who has maintained that he does not want his side to focus on what their opponents are doing, said his only worry at the moment was the knock that Mamelodi Sundowns striker Nyasha Mushekwi had complained of.

“Nyasha is the only one who has not been able to fully take part in training, he says he got a knock in training yesterday but it is nothing serious,” Mapeza said.
Mushekwi, who had a dream debut season in the South African Premiership, scoring 14 goals following a burst of form in the second half of the season, is one of four strikers at Mapeza’s disposal.

The others are Knowledge Musona, Edward Sadomba and Simba Sithole and if their first two days of training is anything to go by then the Warriors are looking sharp and ready for their battle royale.