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Gorowa, who takes over from Klaus Dieter Pagels conducted two training sessions at the National Sports Stadium before naming the 18-man side that will do duty for the Warriors in Port Louis on Sunday.
Zimbabwe will begin their journey for a third successive CHAN appearance when they date the Indian Ocean islanders in a first round, first leg encounter at the George V stadium.
Should they clear the Mauritius hurdle, the Warriors would then face the winner between Zambia and Botswana who are meeting in another first round qualify.
Former Zimbabwe international Gorowa is looking at qualifying for both tournaments but said he would not put himself under pressure to beat Mauritius over the weekend.
Gorowa also revealed his excitement with the opportunity to guide the Warriors but added he was not under any illusions on the tough task that he faces especially given Zifa’s seemingly endless financial woes.
“It is an honour for me and it is a privilege. The team has slightly fallen back and trying to rebuild. I am glad to be part of it and I am aware there are challenges of limited resources like what you will find in South Africa but that is for the administrators, I will deal with the football aspects and I know there is a lot of work to be done.
“As a coach, number one you are judged by the results and number two is to always try to improve the game.
“I observed most of the players during the Cosafa tournament in Zambia and I know what to expect. There isn’t much time to call on new players and it is better to go with the bulk of the current team,’’ Gorowa said.
Gorowa said he was aiming to emulate Sunday Chidzambwa and Charles Mhlauri who he rates highly on the basis that they took the Warriors to the 2004 and 2006 nations Cup tournaments.
The 41-year-old gaffer who had coaching stints at Ajax Cape Town, Moroka Swallows and Mamelodi Sundowns said he had also consulted widely before accepting to take up the task of leading his country’s flagship team as coach.
“I spoke to a lot of guys, including some who were club coaches and became national team coaches because coaching a club is different from coaching a national team, guys like Pitso Mosimane and you take much advice as you can as a coach and have to come up with a plan.
“I still believe the best two coaches are Sunday Chidzambwa and Charles Mhlauri because they took the team to the African Cup of Nations so I will always try to emulate that.
“It is a different environment but l don’t see why l shouldn’t adjust. With a club there is always more time unlike the national team. But you just need to understand the culture and it would be easier.
“Obviously the immediate plan is 2015 Afcon. The other thing is to try and build and develop young players to qualify for CHAN in South Africa because it is important that we play at such tournaments and expose our players to the game at such levels,” said Gorowa.
Gorowa is being assisted by Dynamos’ Callisto Pasuwa, Jairos Tapera of FC Platinum and returning goalkeepers’ coach Richard Tswatswa.
The quartet made some injury inspired changes to the side that lost 2-0 to Zambia in the Cosafa Cup final in Ndola last Saturday with Monomotapa forward Ronald Chitiyo,
DeMbare left back Ocean Mushure, Lot Chiwunga of Black Rhinos and Black Mambas’ Nicholas Alifandika ruled out.
Chicken Inn striker Tendai Ndoro is also unavailable after flying out to South Africa for trials with Bidvest Wits.
Gorowa called up Milton Ncube of Highlanders, FC Platinum striker Nelson Maziwisa and the Dynamos trio of Augustine Mbara, Partson Jaure and Tawanda Muparati.
There was no place this time around for Monomotapa’s Nicholas Guyo whose selection the Warriors had raised questions.
Gorowa said he had watched Mauritius’ games at the Cosafa tournament and had studied extra footage of them which had given them an insight of the kind of proposition they will face.
The new Warriors coach was also bold and indicated that although he would not underrate them, he did not think Mauritius “could be said to be one of the strongest opposition we have faced”.
“You never know because they are at home but I don’t think there is need to put ourselves under pressure.
“The good thing is we are starting away and can even take risks. Football is a game judged by results even though you also want to play well. Zambia are the Cosafa champions but l don’t think they played better than Zimbabwe in the final’’.
Mauritius were in the same Group with Seychelles and Namibia during the Cosafa with the Brave Warriors topping that pool.
“I watched the DVDs and also got some information from reports done by the technical committee at the Cosafa. We got more or less the idea of how they are as a team.
They are quick going forward. They have got a left-footed midfielder who is their best player.
“We know we are playing in their backyard, they can be difficult, but the good thing is the first game would be away so we can always make some adjustments when we play them here,” said Gorowa.
Gorowa also paid tribute to Pagels for the work he has done with the Warriors since taking over in December last year.
“Every coach has his own ways of doing things. The tiki-taka football is good but should be combined with good results. As a national team coach you are judged by results.
“We are in a rebuilding exercise and l don’t think there is any pressure. Football is also a game of opinion. If you look at the majority of the players who played at the Cosafa, l have my own opinion and reservations and will always try and improve. The tiki-taka type of football is good but I will just try to add value to the team,” Gorowa said.
The Warriors are scheduled to leave early this morning via Johannesburg before they connect in the afternoon and should arrive around in Mauritius at around 7pm.
Squad
Tafadzwa Dube, Munyaradzi Diya, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Augustine Mbara, Eric Chipeta, Partson Jaure, Prosper Matizanadzo, Masimba Mambare, Devon Chafa, Charles Sibanda, Silas Songani, Nelson Maziwisa, Last Chibwiro, Milton Ncube, Felix Chindungwe, Ali Sadiki, Tawanda Muparati, Simba Sithole.
Online Reporter