Warriors not in Egypt to add numbers

By Mbekezeli Ncube

Warriors head coach Sunday Chidzambwa has insisted that his team will tonight make up for the mistakes they made in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations against tournament hosts Egypt. The Warriors tackle the Cranes of Uganda at the Cairo International stadium at 7PM this evening.

Zimbabwe is going into the match knowing that a loss will shatter their dreams of qualifying for the knockout rounds of Africa's flagship tournament for the first time in their history.

'We did not come here to add numbers but we came here to compete and I am sure we are going to do that tomorrow (today),' Chidzambwa told reporters at a press conference in Cairo, Egypt yesterday.

'We are up against very good opponents and if we are to produce a very good result we have to fight and I just hope that we will be at our best,' said Chidzambwa who also played for the Warriors during his playing career.

Mhofu as the Warriors coach is affectionately known in Zimbabwe also said that the history that currently favours the Warriors over Uganda will not count. Zimbabwe's record against the Cranes has five wins and seven draws out of 14 meetings since 1981.

'Tomorrow (today) is a new game altogether, the things that are going to happen tomorrow (today) are also new because the last time we played against Uganda was nine years ago,' said Chidzambwa

'There are new players, new coaches, different venue, different country so what will happen then is all new. I think the best team will come up with maximum points,' he added

Meanwhile, Warriors vice captain Ovidy Karuru has said his team will do whatever it takes to collect maximum points.

'Tomorrow's (today) game is not going to be easy as we all saw how Uganda played against DRC, they are a very good side but as the Zimbabwean team we need to win the game at all costs,' said the South African based former Masvingo United player.

'We did not create a lot of chances against Egypt but we have worked on that as a team. We passed when we were supposed to shoot and vice versa and we are prepared to make good decisions,' said Karuru

The Amazulu player told was speaking to our reporters after a workout ahead of the crucial clash against the Cranes

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