THE Warriors are banking on new found chemistry to put up a good performance and book their ticket to the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals when they clash with Kenya here tomorrow.
Zimbabwe national football team host Kenya in a Group J Afcon qualifier at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane in a 6pm kick off clash knowing that just a point will see them clinch a ticket to the continent’s main football feast in Morocco next year.
While only a draw will be enough to secure qualification, the Warriors are looking to approach the match as if only a win will take them through.
After tomorrow, they will still have another match against Cameroon away from home, but they do not want to have to tame the Indomitable Lions in their own den as that presents a big challenge.
Midfielder Andy Rinomhota appreciates that Kenya will present a tough task considering that only a win for the Harambe Stars will prolong the contest for the last spot to the finals in their group.
“Important game, big one for us to get to our main goal, which is the African Cup of Nations,” the England-based midfielder said yesterday.
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“We have done good work on previous camps to get us into this position, so we are just looking to finish the job against Kenya and qualify and put up a good performance and make fans back home very happy and proud and give us something to look forward to next year.”
The last time the two teams met, they played out a goalless draw in Uganda and this time, the stakes are higher.
“It’s gonna be tough, we played them in the past and we know it’s going to be a difficult game. We gonna give all we can and try to be as good as we can,” Rinomhota said.
“The coach is always trying new ideas and new tactics to take into the game. Everyone here has got the same goal of qualifying and it’s gonna be good for everyone for different reasons.
“For me, it’s just trying to make the fans happy, my family proud and just progress in my game.”
The Warriors have played four matches under coach Michael Nees and have been improving with each outing.
“Each camp has been getting better and better and the players have been building chemistry, you can see with the results we have been getting. It has always been steps in the right direction,” Rinomhota said.
“The coach has been getting more time to improve his philosophy and getting his ideas across to us and we have been improving as individuals.”
They played two draws against Cameroon and Kenya in Nees’ first two matches before they won back-to-back against Namibia to soar into second position on the table and within touching distance of a ticket to the finals.