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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS’ preparations for the return leg of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations first round preliminary qualifier against Tanzania received a boost yesterday with Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande training with the rest of the squad.
The South Africa-based midfielder mysteriously withdrew from the first leg trip to Dar es Salaam a fortnight ago, only to pop up claiming that a stomach bug was the cause for his failure to travel with the national team.
Fears were high that Warriors coach Ian Gorowa would close the door on the Kaizer Chiefs Player of the Year for his actions but before the team’s morning training session yesterday the gaffer had a chat with the player and they ironed out their differences.
Katsande was part of the 22 players that were at Gateway in Harare yesterday for a full training session.
“Basically the training programme has started and we have 22 players in camp. All the 18 players that travelled to Tanzania are here and have been joined by goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya, Denver Mukamba, Ovidy Karuru and Katsande who first had a disciplinary chat with the coach before attending the morning training. They came to an understanding with the coach and everything has been sorted. Right now Katsande is fighting for a place in the team with the rest of the guys,” said Sharif Mussa, the Warriors manager.
Katsande’s availability means that Gorowa now has more options in midfield which also has recalled Mukamba, Karuru and Danny “Decco” Phiri.
The Warriors are hard-pressed to turn the tables on Taifa Stars and are aware that for Zimbabwe to keep their hopes of making it for the third time at the continental showpiece next year, they need an outright win. Zimbabwe have been to the Afcon finals in 2006 and 2008.
Next year’s Afcon finals will be held in Morocco.
Should Zimbabwe sail past Tanzania, they will face the winner between Mozambique and South Sudan in the second round set for July. In the event that Zimbabwe clears the qualifying round stages, they will proceed to join Group F which has 2012 Africa Cup of Nations winners Zambia, Cape Verde and Niger.
The group stages will be played between September and November with the winners and runners-up of each group making it to next year’s finals in Morocco.
Mussa is confident that the Warriors will proceed to the next round.
“Everyone is working hard to make sure that we turn the tables and I believe that hard work, team work as well as supporters rallying behind us can be a tonic to winning on Sunday. We just have to pray that all our players don’t pick up injuries during the course of the week so that the coach’s plans are not disrupted,” Mussa said.
Already the Warriors are faced with a blow with the technical team keeping its fingers crossed that the Highlanders’ midfielder Peter “Rio” Moyo who picked an ankle injury in his club’s 3-1 win against Buffaloes at the weekend recovers.
Mussa said their medical team is assessing Moyo who sat out both sessions yesterday and a decision will be made today whether to release him from camp or continue monitoring his progress.
Also ruled out because of injuries are Warriors captain Carlington Nyadombo, Costa Nhamoinesu, Matthew Rusike of Kaizer Chiefs and Ajax Cape Town’s Simba Sithole.
The national team coaches are still hoping that Libya-based striker Edward Sadomba joins camp today after participating in his club’s continental match last weekend.
“We are still waiting to hear about Sadomba’s travelling arrangement from his club because the last time we heard there were attacks at his base so the airport was closed. We are still monitoring the situation and hopefully he will be able to join us tomorrow,” said Mussa.
Warriors in camp
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Pretoria University, South Africa), George Chigova (Dynamos), Munyaradzi Diya (Highlanders)
Defenders: Hardlife Zvirekwi, Ronald Pfumbidzai (both Caps United), Partson Jaure (Dynamos), Milton Ncube (Highlanders), Eric Chipeta (Hwange)
Midfielders: Nqobizitha Masuku (Bantu Rovers), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Stephen Alimenda (Dynamos), Marshal Mudewe (FC Platinum), Talent Chawapihwa (Harare City), Kudakwashe Mahachi, Peter Moyo (both Highlanders), Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Pasca Manhanga (Triangle), Ovidy Karuru (Belgium), Denver Mukamba (Bidvest Wits, South Africa)
Strikers: Kuda Musharu (How Mine), Cuthbert Malajila (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Tendai Ndoro (Mpumalanga Black Aces, South Africa)
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