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Harare Bureau
WARRIORS team manager Patrick Mutesva said the Warriors were not anticipating any problems from Mauritius when the two teams clash in the African Nations Championship first round, first leg qualifier in Port Louis on Sunday. Mutesva said the confidence of the Warriors technical team was growing after watching their opponents during the recently held Cosafa Castle Cup tournament in Zambia.
The Warriors left for the Indian Ocean Island yesterday and were expected to arrive last night for the match set for Sunday at the George V Stadium.
Mauritius failed to go beyond the first round at the regional tournament while Zimbabwe battled all the way to the final where they lost 0-2 to hosts Zambia.
The islanders had edged Seychelles 4-0 before losing 2-1 to Zambia in the other match.
Going into the tournament, Zimbabwe were the defending champions while Club M, considered lightweights, have never lifted the trophy.
“Mauritius should not give us too much trouble at all. We saw them during the tournament in Zambia.
“Of course a team can change anytime, so we are not underrating them at all. We need a very positive approach to the game,” said Mutesva ahead of their departure.
But Mauritius are also promising to make life difficult for Zimbabwe with their coach Akbar Patel, yesterday telling the media in his country that his charges were fired up to face Zimbabwe on Sunday.
Patel said his team was also hoping to book a berth at the Chan finals in South African next year and should be doing this at the expense of Zimbabwe who have been to the previous two finals.
“The Cosafa Castle Cup was a good springboard for our match against Zimbabwe. Our two matches in Zambia were very rich in football lessons.
“Facing serious opponents at that level was very useful to the players in terms of pace of competition”, said Patel
Mauritius progressed to this first round of the Chan qualifiers after beating Comoros 2-0 on aggregate in the preliminary round.
Patel said his charges only rested for two days after returning from Zambia before focusing on the match against Zimbabwe.
The coach has retained the bulk of the players who were in Zambia while dropping Jonathan Ernest, Walter Dupre and Jean Yves Rosario.
“We have almost the same group that will challenge the Zimbabweans. Provided that there are no injuries here and there.
“However, we have included a few players. We will continue screening the players based on their shape and form,” Patel said.
The Mauritians are aware that it will be an uphill task to beat Zimbabwe during the return leg in two weeks time and therefore hope to get a very comfortable result from this leg.
Zimbabwe have the bragging rights as they face the minnows whom they have defeated in five of their eight previous meetings.
Newly appointed Warriors coach Ian Gorowa will be hoping to make a very splendid start in his reign as Zimbabwe coach.
Zimbabwe squad
Tafadzwa Dube, Munyaradzi Diya, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Augustine Mbara, Eric Chipeta, Partson Jaure, Prosper Matizanadzo, Masimba Mambare, Devon Chafa, Charles Sibanda, Silas Songani, Nelson Maziwisa, Last Chibwiro, Milton Ncube, Felix Chindungwe, Ali Sadiki, Tawanda Muparati, Simba Sithole.
Mauritius squad
Goalkeepers: Aboobakar Augustin and Ivahn Marie José
Defenders: Christopher Bazerque, Yash Veeranah, Cédric Permal, Percy Buckland, Jean-Denis Dookheeand Joye Estazie
Midfielders: Stéphane Pierre, Menzy Coco, Colin Bell, Fabrice Pithia, Fabien Pithia, Christopher l’Enclume, Guiyano Chiffone, Luther Rose and Franco Hypolite
Strikers: Andy Patate, Gurty Calembé and Sewram Gobin
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo