admin
Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors assistant coach Mebelo Njekwa has warned his charges against complacency on Sunday when they clash against Ghana in the final qualifying tie for the All-Africa Games.
Zimbabwe lost the first leg 1-2 but are hoping for better fortunes this time around as they seek to progress to the main event to be staged in Brazzaville, Congo, from September 4 to 19.
Njekwa and head coach Rose Mugadza have been working on improving the whole team and the preparations have been good.
“We have been working on all departments because when you lose a game you lose as a team. So it was collectively in defence, midfield and also attacking where we lost,” said Njekwa.
“If you look at this game, we have to score more goals for us to qualify.
“Looking at our trip, and our game in Ghana, the expectations were that we were going to lose by a wide margin but that (the away goal) gave us motivation.
“We played positively and we came out with a result which motivates us again into the next game but we must not be complacent as a team, we have to work and look at it as a new game if we are to win.
“Our strategy is to score early because if we do that, we will be highly motivated and we can push on.”
Njekwa said they didn’t have any injury concerns and the players have maintained a positive attitude ahead of Sunday’s game.
“Our training session went well. We worked on an integrated training session and the response we got from the players was positive.
“The morale is very high, we thank the corporate world. We all wish to qualify and, this way, as a nation, if we work together, we will definitely qualify,” said Njekwa.
Ghana arrived in the country on Wednesday for the match and they were booked into the Cresta Oasis but they were then moved to Rainbow Towers yesterday.
The Ghanaians also spent two hours stranded at the Harare International Airport before they were picked up by their hosts.
Head of delegation for the visiting side Leanier Addy said they were here to win and qualify for the All-Africa Games.
“Let me say we touched down yesterday, we got here at 5pm but there was a little breakdown in communication so we were there (at the airport) up to 7pm.
“We were picked up by the football association (ZIFA) officials to Cresta Oasis Motel.
“This morning we wanted to go out at 9.30 but they had a challenge with where we were supposed to go and train so we eventually travelled to the football federation’s village to train, we just had a shake up for 40 minutes.
“We are just ready psyching ourselves ready for the match on Sunday and our expectation is that we give the Zimbabwean football family a good show of women’s football and we are here to win, nothing but to win, and I am very optimistic,” said Addy. Addy said they were too cautious in the first leg.
“In football anything can happen, it’s just a matter of stepping up your game. We had to be cautious and that is what happened in the first leg.
“We are just here to win and qualify for the All-Africa Games for Congo Brazzaville, that’s all,” said Addy.
Online Reporter