HARARE - Warriors care taker coach Norman Mapeza “It was a good performance by the team. I am impressed with the way the players are applying themselves to the game. It’s a good improvement considering that we played against five time world champions Brazil in the previous game and lost 3-0,” he said. Japan controlled large portions of the game, creating many chances, but could not find the net. The game was split into three 30-minute periods, in which Zimbabwe managed one shot at goal.
Japan had indicated an intention to play against Zimbabwe after the Warriors took on Brazil in Harare, but then decided to face Mozambique instead. But Mozambique told Japan they would skip the scheduled match, only hours after losing 3-0 to Portugal in a friendly in Johannesburg on Tuesday night. The Japan Football Association then hastily re-arranged the Zimbabwe tie with ZIFA.
“We wanted to make the announcement only after confirming that the Zimbabwe team had arrived here,” Japan Football Association technical director, Hiromi Hara, told frustrated reporters.
Meanwhile ZIFA chief Executive Henrietta Rushwaya, who is in South Africa for FIFA meetings, said they had worked hard to reschedule the game.
Post published in: Zimbabwe Sports News