Zimbabwe looking for revenge

ZIMBABWE are bullish ahead of Sunday’s 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) ‘Battle of the Zambezi’ final qualifier against Zambia with skipper Masimba Mambare declaring that the Warriors will be looking for revenge when they host the Chipolopolo.
The Warriors will host Chipolopolo in the first leg at Harare’s Rufaro Stadium still emotionally reeling from the 2013 Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Senior Challenge Cup final loss to Zambia.
Zambia beat Zimbabwe 2-0 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to win their fourth COSAFA title.
“We are preparing well for this match and everyone looks motivated to beat Zambia. They have beaten us before but this is our chance to revenge. Most of the players are happy that we are playing Zambia because they feel that we should have beaten them in Zambia.
“It is going to be like a battle because we are going for revenge and I am sure they also know that we want to avenge the two defeats but the most important thing for us is to win with a comfortable margin to ease pressure in the return match,” he said.
Mambare, according to The Herald, feels that current form will not count in the ‘Battle of the Zambezi’ and the Chipolopolo are not invincible.
“Obviously we are looking forward to redeeming ourselves. There is nothing like current form because I’m sure it will not count in Sundays’ match. We respect Zambia. I am also sure they also respect us,” he said.
Apart from losing the COSAFA title, the Warriors also suffered a 2-0 defeat in an international friendly to commemorate the Gabon air disaster at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.
Chipolopolo are seeking a second CHAN appearance while the Warriors are gunning for their third successive qualification for the continent’s second tier competition for home-based players.
Chipolopolo minted bronze at the maiden CHAN finals in Ivory Coast, while the Warriors have struggled to get past the preliminary round of the tournament.