Online Reporter
Tadious Manyepo-Zimpapers Sports Hub
SIMON MARANGE has implored his Warriors to carry an ultra-competitive mentality into their make-or-break COSAFA Cup Group A tie against cross-Limpopo rivals and hosts South Africa in Bloemfontein this afternoon.
The match kicks-off at 3pm.
Zimbabwe, who have their second-string side competing in this regional contest as the regular squad is in Morocco for international friendlies, had an indifferent start to the tournament after being held to a goalless draw by Group A minnows Mauritius on Wednesday.
With South Africa losing their own opener 1-0 to Mozambique, the stakes are even higher in today’s showdown as the match-up is now a winner-takes-all contest of some sort.
Whoever loses this match, coupled by a likely win for Mozambique over Mauritius will effectively eliminate them from the annual extravaganza as only one team from the group stages will advance to the last four.
And Marange has demanded a next-level performance from his youngsters against a Bafana Bafana team that boast several seasoned campaigners.
“I was looking at the manner in which we played our first game against Mauritius and I should say I am not very disappointed with how the youngsters carried themselves. But we need a response from them after we were pegged back in that match.
“South Africa is a different and difficult prospect.
“The players are in shape and they need to show up.
“But we have to show more composure as it’s not only speed and pace that are decisive in the final third,” said Marange.
“We should be patient, but decisive when in their defensive third. We have worked on that ahead of our derby against South Africa.
“Look, we watched South Africa play. We do have some idea on how to approach the game. We have to compete. I think they are a very good team.
“We all know how good they are as much as they are not their A-side, they are seasoned campaigners and there are also some players that have played at the highest level.
“But we have noted all that and done our homework well. We will try to play our normal game, attack and retain possession. That way, we will stand a very good chance of winning.
“Our future in this tournament depends on this game. It’s a big one and we have to emerge victorious.”
Marange hinted that he is likely to keep intact his starting line-up from the match against Mauritius.
“I think when you look at our performance against Mauritius overall and considering a whole lot of circumstances, I think it was decent.
“Firstly, we had a lot of debutantes at a very young age. I think we had only 30, 40 minutes together before we played that game.
“The squad was in camp I think for only 48 hours, players and everyone else getting to know each other but I think the players really applied themselves well with a very good structure.
“We did well again in set-pieces but were found wanting in terms of the end-product, but I think those are the things I am talking about. We didn’t really get to structure a lot of things.
“But I picked a lot of positives and we can be better and better going forward with these same guys,” added Marange.
“So, we have to apply ourselves and be at the top level of competitiveness. We are bidding to win the game in every aspect.
“We have to dominate and control the game unlike what we did in our opening game.
“The reason we are here is to develop players and get better in terms of the manner in which the country wants to play.”
Zimbabwe have faced South Africa at COSAFA nine times and have emerged winners just twice while Bafana Bafana have claimed five victories with the other two games ending in draws.
Marange will be bidding to add a third win over them and leave the Warriors needing a win against Mozambique in their last group game to advance to the semi-finals.
Peter Tanyanyiwa