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Taurai Mangwiro

Takudzwa Chitsiga Sports Reporter
HARARE City’s CAF Confederation Cup first round opponents Zanaco of Zambia are expected in the country today for the match scheduled for Rufaro on Saturday.

Harare City, who beat CAPS United to progress into the semi-finals of ZNA Charities tournament last Sunday, in controversial fashion after television replays suggested that Leonard Tsipa’s second half goal should have stood, are confident they will upset the former Zambian champions.

Taurai Mangwiro, the Harare City coach, said preparations were on well.

“We have been working hard and everyone is putting in a lot of effort. We are happy with the progress and we will be ready for Zanaco, come Saturday,” said Mangwiro.

“The boys are responding well to training and I hope by match day we will have polished up everything.

“We are planning ahead and we have respect for our opponents who have more experience than us but we will make sure that we will not concede (an away goal).

“Of course, they have played in the Champions League and Confederation Cup but we are geared up for them,” Mangwiro said.

Mangwiro, who rested some of his players in the game against CAPS last Sunday, said he wanted all his men to be ready for action this year.

“We rested some players with the view that we have a long season coming up and also we can progress in the Confederation Cup so everyone should be ready.

“There are many factors involved and the game against CAPS everyone who played did their job well and we progressed.

“We had a small challenge as Blessing Moyo, Agrippa Murimba and Benson Maglasi joined a list of our casualties which already had Jimmy Tigere and Francisco Zekumbawire.

“The three had to sit out today’s (yesterday) training with Moyo and Murimba having ankle injuries while Maglasi injured his foot.

“I believe they are not serious injuries and we will see the boys back in training soon but for Tigere and Zekumbawire they have long-term injuries,” Mangwiro said.

Zanaco coach Mumamba Numba said his charges were ready to face the Zimbabwean side on Satur- day.

Numba recently told Zambia’s Daily Mail that his charges were not scared of their opponents.

Zanaco received a bye in the preliminary round while Harare City beat AS Adema of Madagascar 6-3 on aggregate.

“We have prepared adequately for this game and the players are ready for battle. The players have been psyched ahead of the game,” Numba said.