The Sunday Mail
Ishemunyoro Chingwere
Stephen Alimenda has ruled out the possibility of a disappointment when the Warriors host the Taifa Stars in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations first round, second leg qualifier next Sunday.The Warriors, seeking to retrace the path to African football’s Holy Grail where they last walked eight years ago, troop back into camp tonight, bidding to overturn the 1-0 deficit they suffered, courtesy of a John Bocco strike in Dar es Salaam.
The referee for the tie, Bernard Camille and his two assistants, will come from Seychelles, while William Makinati Shongwe of Swaziland will be the match commissioner.
Once again Gorowa , who has declared that the Warriors will dismiss Tanzania, will have to make do with a squad largely made up of locally based players, as the bulk of his foreign-based stars continue to pull out of the tie due to injuries.
And Alimenda, who put up a man of the match performance in that Warriors’ defeat, is one of the key players expected to steer the national team through.
He says Tanzania will not survive a Warriors’ onslaught.
“I know people always say a lot of things before crunch ties and you might dismiss me as someone trying to put a brave face. However, to be quite honest with you, there is no chance that we are going to be booted out by Tanzania.
“Everybody in the team knows what is expected of us and how to achieve it and we will achieve it. With all due respect, I don’t think they (Tanzania) should worry us as long as we stick to what the coaches will ask of us,” said the midfield hard man.
Gorowa had made five additions to the squad that buckled to a Taifa Stars side inspired by the TP Mazembe duo of Mbwana Samanta and Thomas Ulimwenge as well as Mrisho Ngaasa.
But only Libya-based striker Edward Sadomba and Belgium-based midfielder Ovidy Karuru are still expected, while captain Carlington Nyadombo, Czech-based wingback Costa Nhamoinesu and Matthew Rusike of Kaizer Chiefs have all pulled out with injuries.
Gorowa suffered another setback when his request to have the Premier League’s programme set aside to allow the Warriors more time in camp, leaving him with just a week to conjure a winning formula.
Meanwhile, reports from Tanzania paint the picture of a Taifa Stars outfit that is confident of grabbing a result in Harare.
