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Fans disrupt Warriors training, players jeered
By Sports
Reporter
THE
Warriors had to cut prematurely yesterday’s afternoon training
session as more than a thousand fans invaded the pitch to catch a closer
glimpse of their heroes, two days before the epic showdown with Nigeria
in a 2006 World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifier at the National
Sports stadium.
Thousands thronged the stadium to witness a training match against CAPS United, a match that was not to be as the Warriors held a training session in the main pitch while CAPS United were at the B arena.
Despite the match not taking off, the fans took the opportunity to try and read into Rahman Gumbo’s plans for Sunday.
Only Kaitano Tembo was not part of the squad as Newton Katanha, Dumisani Mpofu and Zvenyika Makonese finally joined camp yesterday.
“I am not happy that we did not finish our training but on the other hand it is good that our fans now believe in our team. With all this support at training, it just spells good things for us on Sunday.
“It is not good that the fans booed some of the players at training and what then would they do if the player is fielded on Sunday,” said coach Gumbo in an interview with the Daily Mirror later.
The fans booed South African based striker Adam Ndlovu among other players but were evidently in love with Shingi Kaondera, Joel Luphahla and Raymond Undi.
On the Sunday match Gumbo said, “People are saying that this is a very big match but to me its just another match. Remember we have played Camaroon and Egypt this year and Nigeria are the third biggest team now. I think we have played even bigger games than this one this year alone.
“There is no reason for our players to nervous. They should just approach it like any other international game where we need to win and enhance our chances of qualifying. A win is what we are aiming for and we are going to do our best to achieve that on Sunday and even when we go to Angola.
“It is good that the match has had such a big hype and it means we are going to have an advantage since the fans will be behind us, yet that could also put the players under pressure if the fans start booing them.
“The competition
is very stiff the guys are fighting for places in the team something
which is quite healthy and I can tell you again that no one is going
to walk into the team.”By yesterday there were no injury fears
save for Harlington Shereni who took a minor knock on his right ankle.
Daily Mirror
NIGERIAN SQUAD: Joseph Yobo, Joseph Enakhahire, Seyi Olajengbesi, Gabriel Melkam, Chid Odiah, Seyi Olofinjana, Austin Okocha, Garba Lawal, John Utaka, Yakubu Ayegbeni, Ifeanyi Ekwueme, Julius Aghahowa, Bartholomen Ogbeche, Christian Obodo, Obinna Nwanneri, Vincent Enyeama, Rotimi Sunday
CURRENT GROUP FOUR LOG STANDINGS
P |
W |
D |
L |
GF |
GA |
PTS |
|
| Nigeria | 3 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
3 |
3 |
6 |
| Zimbabwe | 3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
4 |
2 |
5 |
| Angola | 3 |
1 |
2 |
0 |
3 |
2 |
5 |
| Rwanda | 3 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
5 |
3 |
| Algeria | 3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
2 |
| Gabon | 3 |
0 |
2 |
1 |
4 |
6 |
2 |
Results & Remaining Fixtures
2004
June 5: Nigeria 2-0 Rwanda; Gabon 1-1 Zimbabwe; Algeria 0-0 Angola
June 19:
Rwanda 3-1 Gabon
June 20: Zimbabwe 1-1 Algeria; Angola 1-0 Nigeria
July 3: Nigeria v Algeria; Gabon v Angola; Rwanda v Zimbabwe
September
3: Algeria v Gabon
September 5: Zimbabwe v Nigeria; Angola v Rwanda
October
9: Gabon v Nigeria
October 10: Rwanda v Algeria; Angola v Zimbabwe
2005
March 25:
Algeria v Rwanda
March 26: Nigeria v Gabon
March 27: Zimbabwe v Angola
June 5: Zimbabwe v Gabon; Angola v Algeria; Rwanda v Nigeria
June 17:
Algeria v Zimbabwe
June 18: Nigeria v Angola;
Gabon v Rwanda
September 2: Algeria
v Nigeria
September 4: Zimbabwe v Rwanda; Angola v Gabon
October 8: Nigeria
v Zimbabwe; Gabon v Algeria
October 9: Rwanda v Angola
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