BULAWAYO - Zimbabwe national football team coach Ian Gorowa expressed satisfaction at the way his team dispatched Mozambique in an international friendly at Barbourfields Stadium on Sunday.
The Warriors edged the Mambas 2-1 courtesy of goals from Simaba Sithole and Ali Sadiki.
ANIMATED: Zimbabwe national football team coach Ian Gorowa, centret, gives instructions to midfielder Milton Ncube during Sunday's match at Barbourfields Stadium. Picture: Auntony Zinyange
Gorowa also praised the visitors for giving his side a good challenge as both teams were using the encounter to prepare for next year’s African Nations Championship (Chan) to be held in South Africa.
“Of course every coach is happy to win and it’s good that we won but in today’s match it was about testing the players’ character and for them to prove their worth,” said Gorowa after the match.
“It was more of the performance of the new players that we brought in. It is also important that we train hard and prepare well for the Chan tournament.
“We need to utilise the time we have now so that when we go to South Africa for the Chan tournament we are ready.
“When we go to South Africa we don’t want to go and add numbers but we want to go all the way but that can only be achieved if we prepare well.”
Mozambique coach Joao Chissano also echoed the same sentiments that the match was a good test for his team and it will help them get geared up for the Chan finals.
“I’m happy for my players they really played well judging from the fact that we had three young players who were making their debut for the national team,” said the Mambas coach.
“We had a lot of positives in the match even though we lost. Other than losing the match we gained a lot of things.
“The match gave us a rough picture of what to expect when we play Nigeria and South Africa in the Chan tournament.”