(Last Updated on March 29, 2021 by GERALD NCUBE)
HARARE – Warriors coach Zdravko Logarusic is expected to give some of his top guns a rest with AFCON qualification already secured.
Zimbabwe will tonight host Zambia in what will be a dead rubber match for the Warriors after Group H qualification was sealed last week after beating Botswana and Zambia failing to get the much-needed win against the eventual group winners Algeria.
Logarusic will be looking at giving other players an opportunity to impress while at the same time cushioning his top guns against possible injuries.
He is also expected to ring in the changes to protect some influential players from getting yellow cards and possibly miss the opening match in the AFCON competition to be held in Cameroon next year.
“Last time Zimbabwe went to AFCON, some players could not play in the first game of the competition because of suspension. All those players if they get a card against Zambia, they will get a one-game suspension, that will put us in a difficult situation.
“And we have injuries as well Musona, Perfect Chikwende, Ovidy Karuru, Thabani Kamusoko are all nursing injuries. Should we play for pride and risk some of the players and let them play with suspension hanging over them? Now put yourself in my situation we only have 18 players, including three goalkeepers.
“To make it simple this is what we will do; we will not take this game easy, we will be cautious about the yellow cards. Secondly, we have players who have not had much opportunity with the national team those are the players that we will give an opportunity,” said Logarusic as quoted in state papers.
This will be a perfect time for some of the bit-time players to impress and push for a spot in the squad to travel to Cameroon for the continental showpiece.