Team manager Patrick Muteswa has revealed that midfielder Hardlife Zvirekwi and striker Lot Chiumba are out of selection after aggravating injuries through injury.
Despite that, Muteswa says they took with them 19 players and have adequate replacements for the injured players. That would mean coach Klaus Dieter Pagels changing his 4.5.1 system of play which he used against Malawi in which Zvirekwi was one of the midfield anchormen.
That aside. The Warriors should guard against complacency against a team that has been the surprise packets of the tournament. The Crocodiles came off a tough qualifying group that included East African giants Kenya as well as 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finalists Botswana.
The Crocodiles also eliminated Angola in the quarter finals. That should be enough to scare any opponents in tournament that has been littered by upsets including a victory by the third string South African side over the Brave Warriors of Namibia.
Warriors coach Klaus Dieter Pagels who is hoping to come out of the tournament in glory is likely to abandon the same ultra defensive 4.5.1 formation he used against Malawi with captain Masimba Mambare, Ronald Chitiyo, and Devon Chafa, forming a more mobile midfield in a more attacking 4.3.3 formation.
Newly called Tendai Ndoro and Simba Sithole of How Mine should be the leading lights in the striking role with FC Platinum’s Charles Sibanda joining them as Zimbabwe seeks a glut of goals.
Football analyst Jabes Lefani thinks if Zimbabwe reproduce their first half performance againt Malawi, then the Warriors will be guaranteed of a place in the final.
Zambia’s Chipolopolo play the other semi final against South Africa soon after the Zimbabwean encounter. Many, however, are of the opinion that the 2013 final could be a repeat of the last time around when Zambia met Zimbabwe in the final at Rufaro Stadium in 2009.
Post published in: Sport