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Callisto Pasuwa

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
ZIMBABWE coach Callisto Pasuwa has praised the “positive attitude and commitment to duty’’ shown by his players despite six of them being rocked by injuries ahead of their decisive African Nations Championships qualifier against Lesotho on Sunday.

The Warriors will host the Crocodiles in the CHAN final qualifier, first leg, at Barbourfields with the reverse tie scheduled for Setsoto Stadium in Maseru, the following weekend.

After a delayed start to camp, Pasuwa began preparations for the crunch tie with 18 players attending the morning session at White City while the afternoon training was held at Barbourfields.

Pasuwa said he was charmed by the approach which the players had shown and added that he wanted them to maintain the same spirit they had exhibited as they go into battle against a Lesotho side that has a knack of producing some upset results on the continent.

But six of those players who took part in the training — Rodreck Mutuma, Danny Phiri, Nqobizitha Masuku, Tafadzwa Kutinyu, Teenage Hadebe and Blessing Moyo — are carrying various injuries that could scupper their participation in Sunday’s game.

Dynamos striker Mutuma had to be substituted in his teams’ 0-0 draw with Harare City after picking up groin and ankle injuries at Rufaro and the lanky forward could not complete the Warriors training in Bulawayo yesterday.

Skipper Danny Phiri and his Chicken Inn teammate Tafadzwa Kutinyu are both complaining of ankle injuries while Hadebe of Highlanders has a knee problem and DeMbare right back Moyo is battling to shake off a foot injury.

The quintet of Justice Jangano, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Ronald Chitiyo, Pritchard Mphelele and goalkeeper Takabva Mawaya were expected to join in by late yesterday.

Faced with the uncertainty that has been created by the number of injured players, Pasuwa has since roped in the Harare City pair of centre back Arnold Chivheya and defensive midfielder Tendai Samanja to the 23-man side he had initially called up.

The former Dynamos coach revealed that he had in his address to his players also underlined the importance of being dedicated to the national team’s cause and cited the legendary Peter Ndlovu as a symbol of the kind of commitment he would be expecting from his charges.

Pasuwa said one of the reasons he wanted camp to start in earnest was to establish the players’ conditions on time and make timely decisions should there be need for changes.

“We have started training and the sessions have gone on very well. I am very happy with the attitude shown by these players so far and the commitment they are showing is what we would want because we should not underestimate Lesotho at all.

“Despite some of them carrying knocks, they have trained and they are eager to go.

“Unlike other teams, countries like Lesotho do not have a very large pool of players for their national squad so you find that the same team that plays in the COSAFA Cup, is the same they use in CHAN tournament, the World Cup qualifiers and AFCON and at the end of the day it helps them to gel into a unit . . . they are more like a club.

“In our case we always have changes and it is like starting all over again and we now have to make the most of the few days that we have.

“But I have been telling these players that they should also have pride in playing for their country despite the challenges that are there and I gave them an example of a COSAFA Cup game at Barbourfields against Swaziland where Peter Ndlovu arrived a few hours before the game after playing for his club in England the previous day and he went on to score.

“If Peter was not as committed he would have opted to stay at his club in England and miss the COSAFA Cup games but he always came to help his country’’.

Pasuwa also challenged the Warriors to turn on a good show and charm the fans in Bulawayo arguing that Barbourfields is traditionally a good hunting ground for the national teams.

“Barbourfields is a wide pitch with natural grass and we should fully utilise that home advantage.

“A national team should be able to play anywhere in the country and show character and this is our chance to win the hearts of those supporters who have not been able to come to Rufaro or the National Sports Stadium,’’ Pasuwa said.

As the Warriors began their preparations at White City and Barbourfields, their opponents were bracing for a 2018 World Cup qualifier against Comoros in Maseru last night.

The Crocodiles featured in a 0-0 draw against the Indian Ocean islanders in Moroni last Wednesday and were upbeat of their chances of seeing off Comoros in the second leg.

Interim coach Seephephe “Mochini” Matete, has hardly tinkered with the squad that knocked out Botswana in the CHAN first round qualifiers and played African top seeds Algeria in a Nations Cup assignment last month.

Despite being stalked by injuries and having endured a delayed start to their preparations, the Warriors remain favourites to win Sunday’s game.

This is because the Warriors have lost just once in 16 meetings against the Crocodiles winning 12 while three of the games yielded draws and the hosts have made qualification for CHAN somewhat a preserve for them.

Lesotho squad:

Goalkeepers: Mohau Kuenane, Daniel Jousi, Kananelo Makhooane.

Defenders: Jerry Kamela, Thabiso ‘Mathopa’ Mohapi, Tšoanelo Koetle, Nkau Lerotholi, Thapelo Mokhehle, Poloko Mohale, Motiki Mohale.

Midfielders: Ralekoti Mokhahlane, Bokang Mothoana, Kefuoe Mahula, Jane Thaba-Ntšo, Hlompho Kalake, Litšepe Marabe.

Strikers: Thapelo Tale, Nkoto Masoabi, Thabiso Brown.