Congo’s Balotelli woes give Warriors big boost

funny, he is happy, he is quick and when he is on the pitch there are always new ideas coming to him,’’ said Mel.

“He is someone to change the matches, he is very good. He can come on and make a difference.

“He is young, he wants to be a good player and learn every day. In Spain he played well, for me he is good. He looks a bit like Balotelli, yes. But he has a long way to go before becoming like Balotelli.

“But the raw ingredients are there, of course. “What I see in Bifouma is that he is quick and he scores goals, he is very dangerous in the penalty box.”

Thievy’s possible absence from the match against the Warriors could be a huge boost for Sunday Chidzambwa and his men who need just to avoid defeat and reach the AFCON finals in Egypt later this year. Meanwhile, Chidzambwa yesterday said he was not interested in awards but was fully focused on trying to take the Warriors to Egypt.

The veteran coach was sucked into a row when his name was surprisingly omitted from the Annual Sports Awards shortlist for the Coach of the Year despite leading the Warriors to COSAFA Cup glory and within touching distance of the AFCON finals, including a stunning victory in Kinshasa. Chidzambwa’s name was only included on the shortlist after one of those who had been named could not qualify for the award.

“I want to make it clear that I’m not interested in any awards, throughout my long life in football I have won many awards and, at this stage of my career, awards don’t mean anything,’’ he said.

“My focus is on taking the boys to Egypt and I would be better off my name being associated with articles about that campaign and not the controversy over awards.’’