Get three-day New Year break

Ricky Zililo Sports Reporter
THE Warriors will spend the New Year with their loved ones and friends after being given three days off by coach Ian Gorowa. The national men’s soccer team has been in camp for the past three weeks, preparing for the African Nations Championship (Chan). Zimbabwe will be making their third successive appearance at the continental soccer showpiece having taken part in Ivory Coast at its inauguration under Sunday Chidzambwa before making it to Sudan two years later with Madinda Ndlovu in charge.

The Warriors are in Group B which also includes Burkina Faso, Uganda and Morocco and will be based at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa for the tournament which runs from January 11 to February 1.

Last week the national team coach Ian Gorowa gave the players a break on Christmas Eve and they regrouped on Boxing Day where they had an afternoon training session.

Players from outside Harare failed to travel to their homes to be with their families on Christmas day.
In a telephone interview from Harare yesterday, national team manager Sharrif Mussa said the technical team had decided to give the players a longer break.

“This time around the coaches felt that since the guys have been in camp for some time, they deserve a break to refresh while they are with their families. The players will be leaving camp after the midday training session and will be expected to report back on Friday,” Mussa said.

The Bulawayo-based players who were forced to spend Christmas in Harare include striker Charles Sibanda of Entumbane, Tshabalala’s Felix Chindungwe, the Mzilikazi duo of Kudakwashe Mahachi and Danny ‘Deco’ Phiri, Milton Ncube who hails from Luveve and Pumula East’s Peter ‘Rio’ Moyo who joined camp late.

Masimba Mambare whose hometown is Kwekwe also spent Christmas in the capital.
The break is likely to afford some national team players an opportunity to seal deals with clubs they intend to play for next season.

Sibanda’s contract with FC Platinum runs out today and he has publicly said he will not extend his stay at Zvishavane. Highlanders are said to be interested in the 2010 Soccer Star of the Year who said he wants to play in his hometown, Bulawayo.

Sibanda’s former teammate at FC Platinum Welcome ‘Waroowa’ Ndiweni has already penned a two-year deal with the Bulawayo giants, paving way for the dreadlocked striker to complete his dream move to Bosso.

Highlanders are also keen on retaining their players in the national team, goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, Ncube, Moyo and Mambare.
Mahachi, whose handlers are Bantu Rovers, is likely to meet the former Premiership club and decide on his future. The left-footed attacking midfielder is being targeted by champions Dynamos, Highlanders, Chicken Inn as well as Harare City.