Mapeza Predicts Difficult Encounter Against Ghana
Warriors interim coach Norman Mapeza is expecting a tough match against the Black Stars, one of Africa’s football powerhouses in a World Cup qualifier on Saturday.
Zimbabwe faces star-studded Ghana again next week on Tuesday, with the Warriors still searching for their first win in this campaign after drawing against South Africa and losing to Ethiopia.
Ghana has several players plying their trade in top leagues in Europe, among them Daniel Amartey (Leicester City), Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace) and Thomas Partey (Arsenal).
Speaking yesterday before his departure for Ghana, Mapeza noted that the Black Stars played well despite losing to Bafana Bafana in their previous World Cup qualifier. He said:
We are going to play a very good team. If you look at their squad, they have got so many players playing in Europe and I watched their game against South Africa and they did well despite losing.
With the new coach coming, they will change their game plan. We don’t know much about their new coach except that he was there when they played the World Cup in South Africa.
They have Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew. Those are quality players, so definitely it’s not going to be an easy game. They are a very good team.
Mapeza, however, believes that the squad that he picked for the double-header against Ghana is balanced and is therefore up to the challenge. He said:
The squad that I picked, I think it’s a balanced squad, I am someone who is much more into the flexibility of players.
Football is evolving, so you need flexibility in the squad. I hope with the guys who are here, we can go and do a good job for the nation in Ghana.
Playing away in Africa is not easy. You look at the odds, they favour Ghana because of their history. They play in the Africa Cup of Nations finals a lot.
It’s not going to be easy, but we will go there and give it our best and try to bring a positive result.
