Zico tells Gor to target Everton scalp

Gor, who earned the right to play the nine-time English champions by winning the Super Cup title, arrived at the Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam at 12:40pm (EAT) on Tuesday ahead of the clash that has drawn extraordinary attention.

The K’Ogalo will tackle a new-look Toffees side at the 60,000-seater Uhuru Stadium in Tanzania’s largest city but amid all the excitement and fanfare at the prospect of facing the likes of Wayne Rooney, England’s all-time leading goalscorer, Zico barked at his charges to stay focused.

“We’ll stick to the same tactics that helped us win the Super Cup and our mentality must be stronger against them. Our philosophy has not changed and the plus is we have seven extra players who missed our first trip here to choose from.

“We just want to play some good football; we know Everton is a big club but this is what we’ve been preparing for. The players look fit and we have every chance of beating them. It’s about knowing they’re equally 11 on the other side and taking chances,” Zico said.

The excitement of facing Rooney and indeed Everton proved an irresistible catch for Zico’s charges with defender Harun Shakava saying he is already relishing the match up that.

English media reported Rooney will make his first appearance back in an Everton shirt in the club’s clash against Gor with manager Ronald Koeman confirming all players making the trip to East Africa will feature for at least 45 minutes in the game.

“It is a motivation for the players and personally as a defender. We know his abilities but also we should remember he plays like any player but the difference is he is on another level with different exposure,” Shakava said .

 

“It is not only a challenge but a huge honor to play against him and as defenders we hope we can contain him. It motivates me a lot to play against him because he is someone I have always watched on TV.”