D-Day for Warriors

SKIPPER Partson Jaure has declared that the Warriors are ready to knock the lights out of the Taifa Stars when the two teams meet in an Africa Cup of Nations first round, second leg qualifier at the National Sports Stadium this afternoon.

The match kicks off at 3pm, and entry fees have been slashed to $1 for the rest of the ground.

Zimbabwe, who go into the tie with a 0-1 deficit  to overturn, have no option but to beat the Taifa  Stars if they are to maintain their Morocco 2015 dream?

Having led the local ensemble of the Warriors into their first ever semi-finals of a continental tournament at Chan at the beginning of the year, the 23-year-old Jaure is confident the Warriors will come right today.

"We are going all out in attack in search of goals. We are aware they will try to park the bus but we will not relent until they give in," he declared.

"Our goal scoring pedigree has been questioned of late but having worked on that particular handicap with the coaches, we are now confident we have the requisite fire power.

"The coach has emphasised that we must not give them any space to play and effectively bar them from our goal and that is what we pledge to do. We pray that our fans will come in their numbers and create an atmosphere that will shake Tanzania . . . we need them."

The goals chorus got a boost following the arrival of Libya-based Edward Sadomba, who comes in high on confidence having scored five goals in this year's CAF Champions League campaign.

The Al Ahly Bengazi striker is a vastly experienced continental campaigner but is yet to show his true value in Warriors colours.

However, he looked sharp at his first training session with Gorowa praising him for making intelligent runs.

The former Dynamos man is relishing the prospect of representing his motherland and was encouraged with what he saw in lads such as

Denver Mukamba and Ovidy Karuru.

"It's not about me but the team," he said. "This team has some experienced players who have the experience . . . guys like Denver, Ovidy and Willard Katsande are looking sharp and it will be a pleasure to play alongside them because they can supply clean balls. The coach has been emphasising that we need goals and we hope to deliver in front of what we hope will be a capacity crowd."

Karuru, who has had the opportunity to watch the first leg on video, also reckons the Warriors have what it takes to blow away the Taifa Stars.

"If we play our cards right, according to the coach's instructions we will definitely massacre them," he said.

The availability of Katsande is likely to cost the first leg's standout performer Stephen Alimenda's starter status with the Kaizer Chiefs hard man likely to be the pivot on which the Warriors hunt for gold.

Katsande is likely to float in front of the defence line of Jaure, Eric Chipeta, Milton Ncube and Hardlife Zvirekwi.

Despite him not seeing much action at Bidvest Wits in South Africa, Mukamba can be a potent winger operating from the left and should take up the injured Kudakwashe Mahachi's place.

Sadomba will most likely be deployed on the right wing with Karuru just behind the striking pair of Tendai Ndoro and Cuthbert Malajila.

Warriors Probable XI

G Chigova, P Jaure, E Chipeta, H Zvirekwi, M Ncube, W Katsande, O Karuru, E Sadomba, D Mukamba, C Malajila, T Ndoro