Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo
Zimpapers Sports Hub
PROSPER Padera is excited to be mixing with his idols as the Warriors prepare for their World Cup battle against Benin in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, tomorrow.
Zimbabwe anchor Group C with four points, nine behind leaders South Africa going into the last four games of the qualifiers.
And their showdown against Benin isn’t just a chance for the team to recover some of the ground by winning their first game of the campaign but for Padera it’s a chance to to showcase himself.
“I am so excited to be honest. I can’t even express it. That COSAFA call-up was also my first time and I was also excited,” said Padera.
“I think that’s the reason I ended up playing well because I was eager to be called up again.
“The quality is so good and quite intense and so quiet. Yeah, it’s been so nice to see the big guys you know like Marvelous Nakamba and others.
“They are good passers and players. It’s so good for me to learn from them.
“I am just so excited and I am ready to play not looking at where I was or where I am coming from. I have no pressure at all.
“I just wanna say thank you for supporting the Warriors, we will do our best.”
Veteran goalkeeper Washington Arubi is one of the senior players helping out the greenhorns adjust to life in the senior team.
It’s not only Padera who is one of the newboys but Reading star Tivonge Rushesha is another one.
And Arubi is excited to play a role in helping them adjust to life at this level while also focusing on the game against Benin.
Zimbabwe will play Rwanda in South Africa four days after the Benin tie.
“I am impressed with the way the new boys are gelling with us seniors. We are just trying to push them and motivate them as you know this is a big stage. “We are there for them, we are there for each other so that we can get the maximum points.
“For now we are focusing on Benin because if we think about the next game, we are gonna confuse ourselves. Our preparation can determine whether we can get the maximum points. We don’t want to drop points especially at this time in this stage.
“We are encouraging the fans to keep on supporting us although they sometimes put us under pressure but we love the pressure.”
