Zebras� golden opportunity
Mqondisi Dube | Thursday March 24, 2016 12:35
The Zebras are third in the group, three points behind leaders Uganda (6) and level with Burkina Faso on three points, but the West Africans have a superior goal difference of plus one.
The Zebras’ goal difference is minus one. What might work in Zebras favour is that rivals, Burkina Faso and Uganda face-off also in back-to-back clashes.
If the two cancel each other out as expected, and the Zebras win both Comoros encounters, the local side will go on top and have their 2017 Gabon destiny firmly in their hands.
However, they have a job to do away in Comoros first before they look ahead. “This game will be difficult. They have invested heavily financially in recruiting overseas players. But I am quietly optimistic,” Zebras coach, Peter Butler said.
He said they have not trained since they arrived on Tuesday aboard a chartered Botswana Defence Force flight.
“There has been no time to train, the stadium is at the other end of the Island. It is about 1 hour 30minutes from the hotel. We will go there today (yesterday afternoon),” he said.
Butler said travel had been smooth and the hotel was fine.
“Everything is ok, the hotel is ok and the flight was good. I have not taken notice on the locals’ mood. I am just focused on our guys and the mood is positive.
There are no injuries. We will rest this morning (yesterday) and train at 3pm,” Butler said. If the Zebras avoid a slip-up against the group’s weakest side, they would give themselves a huge boost heading into a campaign-defining encounter against Uganda in June.
“Our mentality and approach has to be offensive. We want to try win both games, however, if you have seven points going into the Uganda game at home, it would still be all to play for,” Butler said.
The Zebras (23rd in Africa) are ranked way above their opponents, who are down in 49th. This afternoon’s game kicks-off at 3pm. one on April 16. The country will send top four riders to the tourney. The event will attract riders from Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Namibia and South Africa.