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It will be in an Afcon qualifier second leg after the Central Africa country won 2-1 in Bujumbura three months ago.
Zimbabwe will be hoping to turn the tables on the visitors who arrive today for the tie.
For the Warriors to progress to the next stage, they just have to beat Burundi and the strikers who have been wasteful in the last two World Cup qualifying matches against Guinea and Mozambique will have to come to the party.
Also called up to beef up the squad is Dynamos’ defender Partson Jaure.
There was no place for Shabanie Mine striker Nelson Mazivise who is the top striker in the country at the moment with nine goals for the former asbestos miners.
In a telephone interview from Harare yesterday, the national team manager Nyika Chifamba said Ovidy Karuru who reportedly missed a glorious scoring opportunity in Mozambique where Zimbabwe played to a goalless draw has been ruled out for the Burundi game due to injury.
“The team started training today and I can confirm to you that Ovidy Karuru is out due to an injury. He went for a scan today and is definitely out for the Burundi match. The coach has called up Dynamos defender Partson Jaure, three strikers Clive Kawinga of Caps United, Dynamos’ Roderick Mutuma and Francisco Zvikumbawire of Hwange,” said Chifamba.
Gumbo has in the matches against Guinea and Mozambique used Knowledge Musona who got the consolation goal the last time the Warriors scored in Bujumbura, Dynamos’ striker Takesure Chinyama who some sections feel is overrated and Terrence Mandaza.
Surprisingly, Mandaza just like Musona have been perennial bench warmers at their clubs with the former reportedly said to be job-hunting after his Platinum Stars of South Africa off-loaded him.
The 2011 Castle Lager Premiership top goalscorer Mutuma, Zvikumbawire and Kawinga are expected to compete for starting places with Mandaza, Musona and Chinyama who have failed to deliver.
The notion is that the players called up in camp will fight to use the opportunity that has been presented to them and show that they deserve to be in the national team.
The final third has let Gumbo down and the nation will be hoping to see what the FC Platinum gaffer will do to rectify the shortcomings.
“I think what we need is to get that one goal and we are home and dry,” Gumbo said after the Mozambique draw.
The defence, marshalled by veteran Esrom Nyandoro, which also has Carlington Nyadombo, Onismor Bhasera and Oscar Machapa has done well and so are the midfielders who have created numerous chances that have not been converted.
Another player who has failed to live up to expectations is Khama Billiat.
Kawinga and Zvikumbawire are yet to score goals in the league campaign while Mutuma has three to his credit.
Squad
Tapuwa Kapini, Marlon Jani, Onismor Bhasera, Vusa Nyoni, Oscar Machapa, Tinashe Nengomasha, Esrom Nyandoro, Willard Katsande, Arnold Chaka, Knowledge Musona, Terrence Mandaza, Denver Mukamba, Takesure Chinyama, Rodwell Chinyengetere, Khama Billiat, Archieford Gutu, Carlington Nyadombo, Clive Kawinga, Roderick Mutuma, Partson Jaure.
Online Reporter