Barely a fortnight to the prestigious 2017 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Gabon, Zimbabwe Warriors midfielder and captain Willard Katsande is confident his country will top Group B.
The Warriors seem to be the underdogs in a group that has Algeria, Senegal and Tunisia.
The Kaizer Chiefs player has the hope that team work will drive the team to the ‘promised land’.
As quoted by African Football, the diligent player believes Zimbabwe has the quality to send shock waves down the spine of the opposition;
I believe we have the quality and talent in our team to top Group B. We are the only team representing Southern Africa and we showed in our qualifying campaign what kind of a force we are.
We worked hard in qualifying, to top our group, and we only lost one game in the process. We will not be an easy team to beat, we are no pushovers.
Yes we are going to carry the underdog tag, but we are going to showcase our talent. The teams in our group are beatable.
In my opinion we are in the ‘Group of Death’ with teams like Senegal and Algeria, who did not lose a game during qualifying and are among the favourites to lift the AFCON title.
But in past games against South Africa we have seen both Algeria and Senegal struggle, and that has given us confidence because we play a similar style to Bafana Bafana.
We will give them the respect they deserve but on match day it is 11 versus 11 and it is all about who applies their tactics best
The Warriors boast of one of the most potent weapons of attacked minded football.
On the team’s provisional squad, there are seven proven strikers competing for the available four slots.
These are; Cuthbert Malajila (Bidvest Wits), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg United), Knowledge Musona (KV Oostende), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang), Mathew Rusike (Helsingborgs IF), Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates) and Tinotenda Kadewere (Djurgardens IF)
Zimbabwe Provisional Squad:
Goalkeepers: Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Tatenda Mkuruva (Dynamos), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi platinum), Takabva Mawaya (Hwange)
Defenders: Costa Nhamoinesu (AC Sparta Praha), Blessing Moyo (Maritzburg United), Bruce Kangwa (Azam FC), Elisha Muroiwa (Dynamos), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Oscar Machapa (AS Vita Club),
Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum), Onismor Bhasera (Supersport United), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Tendai Ndlovu (Highlanders)
Midfielders: Danny Phiri (Golden Arrows), Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns), Raphael Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Golden Arrows), Marshall Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Talent Chawapiwa (ZPC Kariba), Marvelous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem), Ronald Chitiyo (Harare City)
Strikers: Cuthbert Malajila (Bidvest Wits), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg United), Knowledge Musona (KV Oostende), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang), Mathew Rusike (Helsingborgs IF), Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates), Tinotenda Kadewere (Djurgardens IF)
