Stars target to upset ‘Warriors’

NATIONAL football team, Taifa Stars is looking to upset their host Zimbabwe ‘ The Warriors’ in today’s international friendly match crucial for both sides to be held at the National Sports Stadium in Harare.

Stars which left the country on Friday afternoon for Zimbabwe, are taking the match seriously, seeking for positive results to ensure they adjust their position in the next FIFA rankings after dropping by 12 positions in the previous ranking to settle in the 144 slot.

Stars skipper Mbwana Samatta, who plies trade with Belgium top-flight side Genk KRC will lead his colleagues in trading tackles with the Warriors in what promises to be an interesting encounter which is taken seriously by both sides.

The match is crucial for Charles Boniface Mkwasa men, to ensure its welfare in the next global ranking and also to give their hosts a good test ahead of their AFCON finals assignment to be held in Gabon in January, next year.

After missing last month’s Fifa international week, Stars which was to play against Ethiopia will also be targeting to maintain its good record against their hosts, the Warriors.

Last time the two sides met in the Fifa 2018 World Cup qualifiers with Stars edging Zimbabwe 1-0 in Dar es Salaam before sharing the spoils in a 1-all draw in Harare. Mkwasa has said his team had little time to prepare but was adamant they will go for a win.

Mkwasa said few hours before the team’s departure on Friday afternoon that despite having only a single day to train together his squad is ready for the clash. Stars contingent left without Azam FC central defender, David Mwantika, who is injured. “With an exception of Mwantika (David), who is injured, all other selected players in the squad are in good shape ready for the match,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s Warriors skipper Willard Katsande has said that they are taking today’s international friendly match against Tanzania seriously because it is part of their preparations for next January’s AFCON finals.

The Warriors are in Group B together with continental powerhouses Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia. Katsande, who captained the Warriors to the AFCON finals, feels the Taifa Stars match is crucial in fine-tuning the team, before the Gabon tournament.

“It is always good to be together again as players. We need such games so that we create and maintain combinations and team spirit,” Katsande said. “We are taking this match seriously, as if our lives depend on it. Whatever result comes out of it is fine with us but, the most important thing is getting game time.

Remember this is the national team and we do not get the chance to play together every day. We will put all our efforts in this match and remain focused for AFCON.” According to Zifa president Philip Chiyangwa, Zimbabwe is set to play against Ivory Coast on Boxing Day in another international friendly game.

The Warriors Coach Callisto Pasuwa has proposed that Zimbabwe play two North African teams to prepare for Algeria and Tunisia, however, Egypt are said to be interested to play the Warriors just before the start of AFCON.