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Petros Kausiyo in CAPE TOWN, South Africa
WARRIORS assistant coach Mkhuphali Masuku wants his charges to capitalise on the opportunity they have against Burkina Faso tonight and beat the Stallions to secure their African Nations Championship quarter-final passage. Masuku, just like fellow members of the technical crew, has watched anxiously from the touchline as the Warriors failed to spice their fine performances with goals in their Group B campaign. Fortunately, for the Warriors who will face Burkina Faso at Athlone here tonight, they are not yet out of the competition and a 1-1 draw between Morocco and the Stallions in a late game on Thursday left Zimbabwe still with their qualification fate in their hands.
The Warriors had appeared to have surrendered their fate when they were restricted to their second draw of the competition by Group B surprise packages Uganda. A win for Morocco or Burkina Faso in their clash would have complicated matters for the Warriors but the two teams’ draw ensured Group B remained wide open and subsequently left Zimbabwe with an option to win by any margin tonight and seal their place in the knockout stages.
Masuku said yesterday it was imperative that the Warriors capitalized on the third opportunity they have to post a win and go through.
“I think the way the results went by the end of the second round of games is more of a lifeline for us and the onus is now upon us to capitalise.
“We should have sealed the game against Uganda but just like the first game we blew the chances that came our way,” said Masuku.
“Now against Burkina Faso we have a chance to fight for our dear lives and I don’t see us failing this time around.
“The guys are prepared and they are looking beyond the Burkina Faso game on Monday, I don’t think we are going home just yet,’’ Masuku said.
The former Highlanders and CAPS United coach, however, warned the Warriors to brace for a tough evening against the Stallions.
“It is not going to be easy but we have to do all the small things right. We have tried to work on all the mistakes that we have made in the previous games and we continue to try and improve and I hope this time we will get it right,’’ Masuku said.
The dread-locked former Zimbabwe midfielder said the goal crisis that has struck the Warriors ever since they arrived on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean should not be blamed on the strikers alone. The Warriors last found the target when beating Gabon 2-0 in a friendly match at the Rand Stadium on their way to the CHAN tournament.
Their second warm-up game and first match in Cape Town ended in a 3-0 defeat by South African Premiership side Ajax Cape Town and since then their stay here has yielded two goalless draws against Morocco and Uganda that has left everyone in their camp wondering what has gone wrong with their precision.
“Everyone on the pitch has to take responsibility. Of course, the strikers lead the line of attack but it is all about teamwork and if your strikers are being unlucky then the others need to step up and take aim at goal. All we need is a win and we should not really worry about where the goals come from whether it is defenders and or midfielders but this just a game that we have to win at all costs,’’ Masuku said.
Online Reporter