WARRIORS’ assistant coach Lloyd Mutasa says there is not much difference between Malawi and Zimbabwe and has predicted a tough encounter as the two clash in the quarter- final of the Cosafa Castle Cup on Saturday.

Report by Tawanda Tafirenyika

Mutasa was in charge when the Warriors held Malawi to a 1-1 draw in an international friendly match in May.

“I think it will be a tough match against Malawi,” said Mutasa.

“From what I saw during the friendly match, there is not much difference between the two teams and the hungrier team on the day will win the match. It will be a tough tussle after we drew 1-1 in the friendly match because both of us will be looking to lift the trophy. But we have done enough preparations for this game and we have rectified the mistakes we noted from that friendly match.”

Malawi go into the match against Zimbabwe with their confidence low after they were defeated 1-0 by Mozambique in an international friendly match last weekend.

But the Flames of Malawi who have veteran midfielder Joseph Kamwendo in their squad remain a threat to Klaus Dieter Pagels who will be seeking to leave his job as Warriors coach on a high.

Acting team manager Patrick Mutesva said the team would leave for Zambia at 7am today aboard a chartered plane.

Zimbabwe have won the regional tournament a record four times and arrive in Zambia as the defending champions having lifted the prestigious regional cup on home soil in 2009 after defeating Zambia 3-1.

They will be looking to win their fifth Cosafa title.

Team
Goalkeepers: Maxwell Nyamupangedengu (Harare City), Munyaradzi Diya (Highlanders), Tafadzwa Dube (CAPS United)
Defenders: Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United), Felix Chindungwe (Chicken Inn), Ocean Mushure (Dynamos), Eric Chipeta (Hwange), Nicholas Guyo (Monomotapa), Prosper Matizanadzo (Buffaloes)
Midfielders: Masimba Mambare (Highlanders), Devon Chafa (Dynamos), Charles Sibanda (FC Platinum), Silas Songani (Harare City), Ronald Chitiyo (Monomotapa)
Strikers: Tendai Ndoro (Chicken Inn), Lot Chiwunga (Black Rhinos), Simba Sithole (How Mine), Last Chibwiro (Black Mambas).