Double job for Pasuwa

Grace Chingoma Senior Sports Reporter
CALLISTO Pasuwa is set to be installed as the new Warriors coach following revelations that he has been tasked to assemble the squad that will face Malawi in June.

It has emerged that ZIFA have tasked Pasuwa to put together two teams that will battle in the Under-23 Championship qualifiers and the Cosafa Cup.

Although Pasuwa will take charge of the Under-23 Championship qualifiers against Swaziland at Rufaro on May 23, he has also been mandated to assemble the senior side that will take part in the Cosafa Cup.

ZIFA spokesman Xolisani Gwesela and the association’s technical director, Maxwell Takaendesa Jongwe, were evasive about the outcome of the meeting on Tuesday.

The Herald can reveal that ZIFA are not considering hiring a new Warriors coach ahead of the start of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Sources close to the meeting indicated that the squad that Pasuwa will pick for the Cosafa Cup will form the bulk of the Nations Cup side.

“ZIFA want two teams for the Under-23 Championships and the Cosafa Cup.

“The Cosafa Cup squad will have a number of experienced professionals and since ZIFA do not have have money for friendly matches, they are now looking at the Cosafa Cup to use as a build-up to the Afcon matches.

“There will only be just a few days left between the end of the Cosafa Cup on May 30 and the first game against Malawi on June 12-14.

“So, effectively, it is all up to Pasuwa to pick the strongest squad possible for the Cosafa and the Afcon matches.

“The Cosafa squad is thus not going to be another Under-23 side. It will be a senior team that will have the likes of Khama Billiat, Cuthbert Malajila, Kingston Nkatha, Silas Songani and Knowledge Musona,” he said.

The source added that ZIFA had assured the coach that they would assist him in bringing the foreign-based players he would want to use.

Zambia have also picked a number of Absa Premiership players in their squad for the Cosafa Cup.

The former Dynamos coach is set to juggle the hectic programme which will see him remain in Harare to preside over the Under-23 match against Swaziland before joining the Cosafa Cup in North West province in time for their third group match against Namibia.

Pasuwa is expected to name both his squads for the Under-23 and the Cosafa Cup in the next few days.