Sports / Soccer
Warriors captain in injury scare
23 Aug 2013 at 03:13hrs | Views
WARRIORS' captain Masimba Mambare picked up a knee injury during yesterday's training session as the team intensified its preparations for the second and final leg African Nation Championships qualifier against Zambia set for Saturday at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.
The injury, although not very serious has caused some bit of worry within the Warriors' technical team with hopes high that the medical team will give a positive report this morning.
"The injury is obviously worrisome especially at this stage and ahead of such a crucial encounter but I must stress that it's not major although the doctors will give us their final assessment tomorrow (today)," said Warriors' stand in manager Patrick Mutesva.
Mutesva said other than the hopefully minor injury to their captain, yesterday's training session which was held at Gwanzura Stadium went on well with morale said to be high.
He announced that FC Platinum's Donald Ngoma has been called to replace job hunting Chicken Inn striker Tendai Ndoro who sneaked out of the country early this week.
"We are all focused, that I can assure the nation and I think tomorrow after training we shall be able to probably know our travelling 18 member squad," said Mutesva.
There are 23 players in camp with five set to be dropped although indications are that all the players in camp will fly to Zambia to keep the team spirit since a direct flight from the capital to Ndola has been secured.
Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said the team will fly out of the capital tomorrow morning direct to Ndola.
"The flight has been secured and soon after the match on Saturday we expect the guys to fly back home," said Gwesela.
The Ian Gorowa coached national squad needs an outright win or a scoring draw to go through to the finals in South Africa next year after being held to a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
The draw gave the Zambians hope that they will finish off the Warriors in the return leg and their coach, Herve Renard underlined that position during an interview with one of the leading papers in Zambian, The Post yesterday.
"We have to finish what we started about six months ago with the local players. We have to get the qualification for the Chan in South Africa. We did very well and now playing at home, we have to do better against Zimbabwe and qualify," Renard was quoted saying.
"After winning the Cosafa Cup, it will be perfect to qualify for the Chan. We are working very hard and we are going to work hard in Ndola," he said.
Renard said playing on the natural turf in Ndola would be easy for his players, who played on artificial turf at Rufaro Stadium.
"Playing on the grass will be better for us," said Renard.
The injury, although not very serious has caused some bit of worry within the Warriors' technical team with hopes high that the medical team will give a positive report this morning.
"The injury is obviously worrisome especially at this stage and ahead of such a crucial encounter but I must stress that it's not major although the doctors will give us their final assessment tomorrow (today)," said Warriors' stand in manager Patrick Mutesva.
Mutesva said other than the hopefully minor injury to their captain, yesterday's training session which was held at Gwanzura Stadium went on well with morale said to be high.
He announced that FC Platinum's Donald Ngoma has been called to replace job hunting Chicken Inn striker Tendai Ndoro who sneaked out of the country early this week.
"We are all focused, that I can assure the nation and I think tomorrow after training we shall be able to probably know our travelling 18 member squad," said Mutesva.
There are 23 players in camp with five set to be dropped although indications are that all the players in camp will fly to Zambia to keep the team spirit since a direct flight from the capital to Ndola has been secured.
"The flight has been secured and soon after the match on Saturday we expect the guys to fly back home," said Gwesela.
The Ian Gorowa coached national squad needs an outright win or a scoring draw to go through to the finals in South Africa next year after being held to a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Rufaro Stadium on Sunday.
The draw gave the Zambians hope that they will finish off the Warriors in the return leg and their coach, Herve Renard underlined that position during an interview with one of the leading papers in Zambian, The Post yesterday.
"We have to finish what we started about six months ago with the local players. We have to get the qualification for the Chan in South Africa. We did very well and now playing at home, we have to do better against Zimbabwe and qualify," Renard was quoted saying.
"After winning the Cosafa Cup, it will be perfect to qualify for the Chan. We are working very hard and we are going to work hard in Ndola," he said.
Renard said playing on the natural turf in Ndola would be easy for his players, who played on artificial turf at Rufaro Stadium.
"Playing on the grass will be better for us," said Renard.
Source - chronicle
