admin
Mugove Chigada in MAHAJANGA, Madagascar
HARARE CITY’S big striker Francesco Zekumbawire has shaken off an ankle injury that troubled him for the better part of last week and is fit to face AS Adema this afternoon.
The Sunshine Boys carry a slender 3-2 lead into the second leg of this CAF Confederations Cup preliminary round fixture which kicks off at the Rabemananjara Stadium at 2:30 PM.
Zekumbawire failed to score in the reverse fixture played at Rufaro a fortnight ago but believes Harare City will beat AS Adema and progress to the next round.
“There is every reason to believe that we can beat them here. I’m a striker and it is expected that I should score whenever I play.“I will try my best to ensure that we progress to the next round,” said Zekumbawire.
Morale is high in the camp and goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, who conceded twice in the reverse fixture, says his team cannot afford to make the same mistakes that saw AS Adema come back from 0-2 down at Rufaro.
“Those were just mistakes we made and it does not reflect on the strength of our team.“We can dominate these guys and be in control of the match. We just have to make sure that we have high concentration levels,” he said.
City’s goals came from debutants Raphael Manuvire (double) and Ronald Chitiyo and former Sunshine Boy Silas Songani, who is now based in Denmark, has backed the duo to shine once more.
“I played along the likes of Chitiyo and Manuvire either at club or national team level and I believe they can be a very dangerous combination.
“The fact that they have also been playing together at national team level means they have a good understanding,” said Songani.
The SønderjyskE star says he has been following Harare City’s progress closely and believes they can brush aside AS Adema.
“I wish them good luck. It is not an easy game for them but I know they can do it if they put maximum concentration right from the first whistle to the last.
“They have a mountain to climb but the most important thing will be to find an away goal.
“My advice will be for them to attack the home team and then try to keep possession so that the whole team can be frustrated.
“If the home team is not in possession of the ball they will easily be frustrated and be under pressure. That is possible,” Songani said.
He was speaking from his base in Denmark.Harare City trained on Thursday and Friday under wet conditions after a heavy downpour that lasted more than five hours.
They held another session yesterday morning.AS Adema played friendly matches against a local club last week and won 8-0 but they have highlighted that it was not about the score line.
They say they needed to build their confidence.AS Adema, who are based in Antananarivo, have been forced to play away from their home, in the west coast city of Mahajanga.
Through-out the week, they have been conducting road shows to make sure that the locals here, who hardly watch top flight football, come and back the team.
The interest in the game has been high with coordinators on the ground failing to ensure Harare City trains in an empty stadium in all their training sessions so far.
AS Adema managed to train at the match venue for the first time on Friday afternoon with a similar crowd, of about 400, that watched City train, also in the stadium.
Online Reporter