By Ray Bande
HOPES are high that the Zimbabwe national team will get the result they want when they face Guinea on Sunday in their second AFCON qualifier after most of the foreign-based players called up for the match arrived by Wednesday evening.
The Syli Nationale, as Guinea are commonly referred to in African football, are familiar opponents to the Warriors. They beat Zimbabwe 1-0 in a 2014 World Cup qualifier at the National Sports Stadium three years ago.
Although preparations in the run-up to this encounter have not been what they ought to be with late delivery of air tickets to players by the country’s soccer mother body, Zifa still hopes the senior national team will collect maximum points to cement top position in their qualifying group.
The late arrival of foreign-based players has been attributed to the late delivery of air tickets to them. The players were expected to fly in on Monday night after the weekend games, but it emerged that Zifa had not sent them air tickets and Sparta Praha defender, Costa Nhamoinesu, had to use his own money to travel and was the only foreign-based player, who trained on Tuesday afternoon at Rufaro. Nhamoinesu was the first foreign-based star to jet into the country on Monday.
According to Zifa spokesperson, Xolisani Gwesela, on Wednesday afternoon, the rest of the players were already in camp, save for a few, who were expected to arrive by night on the same day.
“Most of the players are already in camp and training is going ahead. I do not have the actual list of players with me here because I am driving from Marondera, but I could give you as soon as get into Harare, but otherwise most, if not all, are now in camp,” said Gwesela, who, however, could not be reached for the official list in camp around 6pm as he had pleadged.
Although no official comment could be obtained, chief top man, Knowledge Musona, was said to have arrived by Wednesday around 6pm. The Warriors had a bright start in the Group L 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, beating the Flames of Malawi 2-1 in their own backyard, while Guinea were stunned by Swaziland.
Zimbabwe are joint leaders in Group L with Swaziland on three points and need to win at home to enhance their chances of qualification for the finals.
Unlike the Warriors, Guinea have been a bit organised in their preparations after their mentor Luis Fernandez named a 23-man strong squad to face the Warriors, way back when Zifa was still battling to convince Calisto Pasuwa to stay as the national team gaffer.
Their squad is dominated by players who took part at this year’s Afcon tournament where they reached the last eight.
Also included in the squad is former AC Milan midfielder, Kevin Constant who now turns out for Trabzonspor in Turkey. Rayo Vallecano forward, Alhassane Bangoura has also muscled his way into Fernandez’ plans as well as defender, Florentin Pogba, brother to Juventus midfielder and France international, Paul Pogba. Manica Post
