Sibanda speaks on CHAN

Eddie Chikamhi Sports Reporter
WARRIORS midfielder Charles Sibanda says Zimbabwe should aim for a good start when they face North African giants Morocco at this year’s African Nations Championship tournament. The CHAN tournament will kick off this Saturday in South Africa with the Warriors scheduled to set their campaign in motion the following day against the Atlas Lions.

Sibanda will be gracing the tournament for the second time after taking part in the previous edition in Sudan and has a feeling that tables will turn in South Africa.

Zimbabwe have qualified for every edition of the biennial tournament but they failed to make it past the group stages in the inaugural 2011 CHAN competition in Cote d’Ivoire and in Sudan two years later.

However, Sibanda, who is part of the 23-member squad that left for Johannesburg yesterday for the third edition of the tournament, is convinced they are better prepared this time around and have better chances this year.
The Warriors were placed in Group B with Morocco, Uganda and Burkina Faso.

“It will be tough because we are facing tough opponents but, if you look at the way we are training, I don’t think we will go wrong.
“We have good chances as long we stay focused and perform according to what the coaches want us to do.

“The last time we went to CHAN, we were not organised, unlike this year. This time around we are promising to be better.
“That time (2011) we didn’t have enough time to prepare for CHAN,” said Sibanda.

The Warriors are expected to play a friendly match against Gabon this afternoon at the Rand Stadium at 3:30pm.
Gorowa has named a strong 23-member squad that include only three survivors from the previous edition.

Zimbabwe, who remain unbeaten since the arrival of Ian Gorowa, qualified for the tournament at the expense of Zambia when they posted a memorable 1-0 win against Chipolopolo at their Levi Mwanawasa fortress in the final qualifier.

Sibanda said it was crucial for Zimbabwe to start the tournament on the positive note when they engage Morocco at Athlone Stadium on Sunday.

The Warriors will be based in Cape Town, which is the hosting city with two groups, with the other matches being played in Polokwane and Mangaung.

Zimbabwe will play their second match against Uganda next Thursday at Athlone and then wind up the group phase against Burkina Faso at the same venue on January 20.

Sibanda, who featured at the last tournament alongside Dynamos’ Simba Sithole and Tafadzwa Dube, said they should aim for a positive result against Morocco who appear the strongest team in the group.

The Atlas Lions have seven players from the successful Raja Casablanca side that reached the final of the Fifa Club World Cub.
Despite their big profile, Sibanda said Zimbabwe will approach each game with a positive attitude.

“It’s a tournament and it’s all about scoring. If you score more goals you will achieve more.
“Morocco could be a big problem because they have been playing together for some time.

“There are some big names in their team but according to our way of playing I think we can match them. All of us want to make our names as well.

“We have been training hard so I don’t think we will go wrong as long as we do what we have been practicing in training,” said Sibanda.

Warriors Fixtures
Zimbabwe v Morocco (Jan 12, 17:00Hrs)
Zimbabwe v Uganda (Jan 16, 17:00Hrs)
Burkina Faso v Zimbabwe (Jan 20, 20:00Hrs)

Warriors Squad
Goalkeepers: George Chigova (Dynamos), Tafadzwa Dube (CAPS United), Munyaradzi Diya (Highlanders).

Defenders: Oscar Machapa (Dynamos) , Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United) , Augustine Mbara (Dynamos), Felix Chindungwe (Chicken Inn), Themba Ndlovu (Dynamos), Eric Chipeta (Hwange), Partson Jaure (Dynamos).

Midfielders: Masimba Mambare (Dynamos), Tawanda Muparati (Dynamos) , Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Pascal Manhanga (Triangle), Charles Sibanda (FC Platinum), Kuda Mahachi (Chicken Inn), Ali Sadiki, (FC Platinum), Peter Moyo (Highlanders), Milton Ncube (Highlanders).

Strikers: Simbarashe Sithole (How Mine), Nelson Maziwisa (FC Platinum), Simba Sithole (Dynamos), Donald Ngoma (FC Platinum).