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Sports Reporter
MIGHTY Warriors coach Shadreck Mlauzi is happy with the attitude of his charges as the side entered day two of their preparations at Rufaro yesterday for their Olympic Games qualifier against Cameroon.

Mlauzi took over from Rosemary Mugadza, albeit in controversial circumstances, and this will be his first assignment with the senior national team. The Mighty Warriors progressed to the last round of the qualifiers following the withdrawal of Cote d’Ivoire in August.

They take on Cameroon in the first leg on Saturday in Yaounde. Mlauzi said he was ready for the assignment and has been cheered by the response from his players. “It’s wonderful, we have been with some of them in junior national teams so, really, it hasn’t been a challenge to work with them,” said Mlauzi.

“They have reacted in the best manner that we expected from players given the limited time that we have.

“I would like to say based on what we have done, yes, the team is raring to go, yes we still have quite a number of areas that we need to cover but, generally, the mentality is good.

“We have been fine-tuning on the physical aspect of the game, I am sure the players will respond.”

The Mighty Warriors gaffer said they still need to work on the fitness of the players.

“It’s something that we have been working on, it’s something that we will closely monitor and it’s something that can be developed over quite some time.

“It cannot be built over one day, no, but it will be built gradually over a period of time.

“At this level it’s honestly a privilege to be coaching the national team.

“It’s a great challenge on its own but I have coached the junior national teams. It’s a challenge but I am a man who likes challenge.

“We are not going there to tour, we are going there for war and that is exactly what we are going to give the opponents,” said Mlauzi.

The Mighty Warriors last played a competitive match in May against Zambia in the second round at Rufaro before they progressed to this round after Cote d’Ivoire withdrew from the competition.