adminthey were confident of a victory in Cape Verde.
Five players – goalkeeper Washington Arubi, Daniel Veremu, Tapuwa Khumbuyani, Zhaimu Jambo, Willard Katsande and Cuthbert Malajila – left via Johannesburg where they were expected to hook up with the South Africa-based contingent and connect to Dakar last night.
They are scheduled to arrive in Praia this afternoon.
The Europe-based trio of Knowledge Musona, Ovidy Karuru and Vusa Nyoni also left last night from their bases for Lisbon where they were expected to meet and connect together to Praia and arrive a few hours before the bulk of the Warriors arrive.
The travel arrangements have left the team with two training days but the Warriors were in high spirits and confident of a positive result in the last crucial match. Zimbabwe need an outright win against the Blue
Sharks and hope that Group A leaders Mali falter away to Liberia.
Kaizer Chiefs’ midfielder Katsande said they were ready for the final assault.
“We have a full squad now with everyone available for selection. We need to work hard and get a positive result. We must go there and approach the game with the right frame of mind. But the most important thing is we must avoid conceding an early goal. And if we happen to score an early one it would be good for us.
“The boys are ready and I am confident we can do it. Football is not about one man and it’s a team effort and I will do my small part to contribute to the Warriors’ success,” said Katsande.
Jambo who is making a return into the fold after missing the previous Warriors encounters, said all the players called have been active and should come to the party on Saturday.
“Fitness-wise we are good because the league matches are on and the two days which we would be in camp are enough to shape the team which has been playing together for some time.
“Even the bad reception and hostile conditions should not affect us because we are professional players used to some of these bad away conditions and it shouldn’t really change anything and we will not even think about it.
“We just have to go out there and play our normal game,” said Jambo.
Dynamos striker Cuthbert Malajila believes the team will do well.
“We are going to play for our result first and then we will focus on what would have happened to the other teams later. We want to win. As a player it is motivating to be called into the team at any given time.
“And I am just happy to be part of the team again. It means the coaches are noticing the hard work l am putting in for my club. I have been concentrating on my football ever since returning from Libya and I am comfortable and focused and enjoying it.
“If selected to feature for the team I would also want to contribute to Warriors’ success,” said Malajila.
The forward was called in as a last-minute replacement for the injured Edward Sadomba, whowas at Harare International Airport to support his teammates.
Malajila has also been called up at the eleventh hour for encounters against Mali in Bamako and the Liberia tie as replacement for the injured Musona.
Warriors’ assistant gaffer, Joey “Mafero” Antipas, was also bullish that his troops would conquer.
“We all know it is a decisive game and a winner take all. The onus is there for us to do well. We know we would be playing in a harsh environment but I believe if the team plays well we will get the result.
“We will work within the limited time to try and get the team ready for the Saturday battle. We have to adjust to the conditions of playing away as early as possible in the game.
“The boys have been down the road before and it is nothing new,” said Antipas.
Warriors’ manager Sharif Mussa said all the players would be in Cape Verde tomorrow.
“All the tickets have been sorted out and I have been talking to the boys in Europe and they are on their way to the airport. Knowledge is connecting from Frankfurt to Lisbon in Portugal while Vusa is flying from Brussels and Ovidy from Paris to Lisbon where they will then connect straight to Praia and jet in a few hours before us.
“We are connecting tonight (last night) from OR International Airport and captain Method (Mwanjali) and the rest of the players in South Africa will be waiting for us,” said Mussa.
Zifa board member Elliot Kasu is the head of delegation.
Meanwhile, a local firm, Classic Electrical, has offered to do repairs, maintenance and installations on all the Zifa properties free of charge.
The company’s technical director Eddy Sande donated a consignment of T-shirts to the Warriors yesterday.
Online Reporter