Gutu back for Young Warriors

Africa scheduled for later this month.
Gutu, who was suspended for two international games in April after being sent off in a match against Botswana, was named among the 28 players called by the Zimbabwe Under-23 technical team.
He missed the Young Warriors’ return leg against Botswana and the Warriors’ game against Mali while his teammate Denver Mukamba is still serving the remaining two games of his four-match ban.
Zimbabwe’s Under-23 team went into camp yesterday in preparation for their first leg of the final qualifying round of the All-Africa Games against South Africa pencilled on June 26.
Skipper Qadr Amini, who was not fielded by his club Gunners in a league match at the weekend, is set to travel to South Africa this week to seal a deal to join champions Orlando Pirates. Young Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare said the squad will be reduced to 24 today after assessing the players in their first training session at Gwanzura. He said most of the players, who have been called, reported for camp yesterday except a few who indicated that they had commitments elsewhere.
“The players have reported for camp except for Khama (Billiat) and Tafadzwa Rusike who had commitments somewhere but they will be available tomorrow (today) for our first training session.
“Trevor was excused to give him rest since he only arrived on Sunday, but he will report for training tomorrow (today).
“Matthew Rusike is still in South Africa. We haven’t communicated as yet but we are expecting him any time to join the other guys in camp.
“Joel Ngodzo is the only player who will be coming in late as he is attending the funeral of his grandmother.
“We have replaced goalkeeper George Chigova of Gunners with Liberty Chirava from Chicken Inn after the former went AWOL from his club,” said Mpandare.
The Young Warriors manager described the move by South African club Kaizer Chiefs to hold onto Knowledge Musona as a way of trying to sabotage the Zimbabwean cause.
“Kaizer Chiefs have explained their position on medicals that will be conducted on the same weekend we are playing South Africa but if they release their Under-23 players for the South African match against Benin, then we will write a complaint to Fifa and Caf.
“I think it’s just a way of trying to sabotage our team,” added Mpandare.
He also said that the team will look for a strong Premiership side to play with and the players will be released after Thursday’s training session for weekend’s matches at their respective clubs.
Winners between the two neighbours will grab the ticket to the 10th All-Africa Games to be held in Mozambique from September 3-18. The Young Warriors advanced from the first round at the expense of Botswana after winning 6-3 on aggregate last month.
Friday Phiri’s men have been in fantastic form having also dispatched a well-drilled Zambia Under-23 side 4-3 on aggregate.
But they now face their final hurdle in South Africa’s Amaglug-Glug in what promises to be a bruising encounter in the first leg scheduled for June 26 in South Africa. The return leg will be played in Harare on July 9.
SQUAD:
Goalkeepers:
Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders), Liberty Chirava (Chicken Inn)
Defenders:
Lincolin Zvasiya (FC Platinum), Qadr Amini (Gunners), Knowledge Machona (Monomotapa), Morris Kadzola (Chicken Inn), Obey Mwerahari (Monomotapa), Willard Kalongonda DC Academy), Charles Mutero (Shooting Stars), Blessing Chimwamuchere (Monomotapa), Edwin Nkomo (Bantu Rovers)
Midfielders:
Joel Ngodzo (FC Platinum), Abbas Amidu (Black Mambas), Wellington Kamudyariwa (Gunners), Ngonidzashe Maviri (Kiglon), Misheck Mburayi (Highlanders), Tafadzwa Rusike (Ajax Cape Town), Khama Billiat (Ajax Cape Town), Timire Mamvura, Archieford Gutu, Devon Chafa (all Dynamos), Russel Madamombe (Monomotapa), Trevor Mutero (Reading, UK)
Strikers:
Malvern Dumbura (Monomotapa) Matthew Rusike (Jomo Cosmos), Simba Sithole (Caps United), Patrick Khumbula (Dynamos).