admin
Sibanda has been one of the star performers for chart topping Highlanders with some good goalkeeping but has been let down by some poor ball distribution.
His teammates Eric Mudzingwa, Innocent Mapuranga and Peter “Rio” Moyo were once again overlooked in a squad announced last night by Warriors manager Nyika Chifamba.
Mthulisi Maphosa, another Bosso star performer, was obviously overlooked because his name is on the Asiagate list. He has been the country’s most outstanding anchorman.
Sibanda will compete for the Warriors number one jersey with Chicken Inn’s Njabulo Nyoni and Motor Action’s ageing Marlon Jani.
Tapuwa Khumbuyani, who had a hectic afternoon in Caps United’s rearguard in the loss to Highlanders last Sunday, is the most experienced of the defenders called up. Arnold Chaka of Mochudi Centre chiefs will probably be one of two foreign based players with the other being Bidvest University’s Denver Mukamba.
The Warriors are expected to camp in Harare tomorrow ahead of departure at the weekend for the tournament which begins on Monday and features Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
“We have deliberately picked two players from most of the teams so as not to disrupt the PSL programme. We are also looking at combinations and the future in arriving at this team,” said Chifamba, explaining why an in-form player like Mapuranga had been left out.
The squad
Goalkeepers: Aerial Sibanda (Highlanders), Njabulo Nyoni (Chicken Inn), Marlon Jani (Motor Action)
Defenders: Hardlife Zvireki (Gunners), Passmore Bernard (Motor Action), Arnold Chaka (Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Botswana), Tapuwa Khumbuyani (Caps United), Godfrey Moyo (Motor Action), Morgan Mungumbe (Monomotapa)
Midfielders: Brian Mapfumo (Monomotapa), Ronald Chitiyo (Monomotapa), Willard Kalongonda (Harare City), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Denver Mukamba (Dynamos/ Wits University), Farai Mupasiri (Dynamos)
Strikers: Nelson Mazivisa (Shabanie Mine), Charles Sibanda (FC Platinum), Rahman Kutsanzira (Caps United), Ronald Chinyengetere, Francisco Zvikumbawire (Hwange), Abbas Amidu (Black Leopards, South Africa)
Online Reporter