Zimbabwe Football Association has announced a 25 men squad yesterday that will face South Africa and Ethiopia during the world cup qualifiers on the 11th and 14th of November respectively.
By Costain Shamu
Although, the warriors are playing dead rubber matches as there is no mathematical way in which they can qualify since they are languishing at the bottom of the group.
However, Norman Mapeza will surely want to use the matches as a preparation for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in January next year.
With the inclusion and exclusion of both experience and dead weight in the squad, a lot of eyebrows will be open for the match against Bafana Bafana on 11 November at the FNB stadium at 2100hrs.
There has been a good injection of young and vibrant players such as Ipswich Town’s top scorer Macauley Bonne, who is on loan from Queens Park Rangers and haile another young addition to mentis already netted 11 goals this season, whon is 18 year old Tawanda Maswanhise who plays for Leicester city.
Two time capped Macauley Bonne has previously ignored calls for the National team and a close source within the warriors technical team said they are still waiting on the response, while it is a first time call for former top sprinter Jeffrey Maswanhise’s boy.
However, the warriors will not be having the services of inform Jordan Zemura (Bournemouth), Captain Knowledge Musona, Marshal Munetsi, Teenage Hadebe and Spanish based keeper Martin Mapisa who are currently injured.
Tino Kadewere who had a terrific debut season last year when he joined Olympic Lyon, scoring 10 goals and providing 3 assists in 33 appearances, has been battling with his physical fitness and form this current season, as he has only featured twice in the league and is yet to find the back of the net.
Although he last scored on an away defeat to Algeria, his form in national colours has not been something to write about, only one goal in 8 appearances, his exclusion from the warriors is purely justifiable.
Another tough but important decision that was made by Mapeza, was to drop both the keepers (Washington Arubi and Talbert Shumba) who played the two games against Ghana in which the warriors lost 3-1 away and 1-0 at home.
Dynamos goal keeper Taimon Mvula, has received a first time call after displaying eye catching performances in the Chibuku Super Cup and the squad also includes 5 other local based players.
Mapeza has also recalled Devine Lunga, David Moyo and Knox Mutizwa who had missed the previous qualifiers while Germany based midfielder Jonah Fabisch who plays for Hamburg, has been included in the warriors fold.
The warriors have only managed to get one point and 3 agonizing defeats from Ghana and Ethiopia during their disappointing world cup campaign but they have 2 more games to sort out their dignity and form.
Warriors squad
Goalkeepers: Taimon Mvula (Dynamos), Donavan Benard (Chicken Inn), Petros Mhari (FC Platinum)
Defenders: Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle), Tendayi Darikwa (Wigan Athletic), Bruce Kangwa (Azam), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns), Takudzwa Chimwemwe (Nkana), Alec Mudimu (Torpedo Kutaisi), Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Godknows Murwira (Dynamos)
Midfielders: Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa), Kelvin Madzongwe (FC Platinum), Gerald Takwara (Venda Football Academy), Farai Madhananga (Marumo Gallants), Blessing Sarupinda (Sekhukhune), Tawanda Maswanhise (Leicester), Thabani Kamusoko (Zesco United), Jonah Fabisch (Hamburger SV), Kudakwashe Mahachi (SuperSport United), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Ismael Wadi (JDR Stars)
Strikers: David Moyo (Hamilton Academical), Macauley Bonne (Ipswich Town), Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows)
