adminAugustine Hwata Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS’ coach Ian Gorowa was still holed up in Harare last night while the national team failed to get down to business, as some players were still making their way to Bulawayo, ahead of their international friendly against Mozambique at Barbourfields on Sunday.
Gorowa has assembled a team of players who ply their trade on the domestic front and is using the game as part of the preparations for the African Nations Championship finals next year in South Africa.
However, Gorowa will now have limited time to assess his players despite this being the off-season as some of the players were yet to report for camp last night.
His mission to take his team to South Africa for a 20-day training camp appear to be doomed, for now, with Zifa insisting that they prefer a camp held here because they cannot afford the costs of a camp on foreign soil.
Gorowa remains confident that he will hold his camp in South Africa.
The Warriors are now expected to hold their first training session at Barbourfields this morning with Gorowa, who flew into Harare on Monday to start preparing for the match, expected to fly into Bulawayo today.
“We are taking the CHAN finals very seriously and this is why the coach is using this game against Mozambique as a yardstick for the preparations,” Zifa communications manager, Xolisani Gwesela, said.
“All the players have not yet reported for camp but we expect the first session to be held at 9am tomorrow (today) and then another session in the afternoon.”
Mozambique are scheduled to arrive in Bulawayo this afternoon on a flight from South Africa for what will be Gorowa’s first home game away from Rufaro.
“It’s imperative to note that we have reduced the game charges to as little as US$2 and we appeal to fans to come in their numbers and support the national team.
“There are three key issues in particular about this match against Mozambique and one of them is that the national team is a national project and it’s Zifa’s obligation to spread the game nationwide.
“Bulawayo has been the first port of call and we hope other local authorities will develop their facilities to meet international standards and we will be in a position to take the Warriors there.
“We are using this chance to subject our locally based talents to international competition and to develop the skills of these youngsters,” said Gwesela.
Two months ago, Gorowa expressed his reservations of staging the Warriors home matches at Rufaro as he said the artificial surface was not in good shape because of poor maintenance.
In October, Zimbabwe and Mozambique drew 1-1 in a dead rubber World Cup Group G qualifier at Rufaro.
Zimbabwe will be the top seeds in Group B at the CHAN finals where they face Burkina Faso, Morocco and Uganda.
Mozambique will play Bafana Bafana, Nigeria and Mali at the same CHAN tournament.
Online Reporter