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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
PLAYERS plying their trade in the Castle Lager Premiership dominate the 22-men Warriors squad to face Tanzania in the first leg of the first round of the 2015 African Nations Cup in Dar-es-Salaam on May 18.The team goes into camp on Monday with training starting on the following day. Four players will be axed after Thursday’s afternoon training session according to team manager Sharrif Mussa.
National team coach Ian Gorowa has kept faith in most players that were part of the African Nations Championship (Chan) finals in South Africa at the beginning of the year and has only brought in six South Africa based Warriors.
There are no local strikers in the squad that was announced yesterday with the coaches choosing to go with the quartet of Tendai Ndoro (Mpumalanga Black Aces), Kaizer Chiefs’ Kingstone Nkhatha, Simba Sithole of Ajax Cape Town and Cuthbert Malajila whose Mamelodi Sundowns won the Absa Premiership title on Tuesday.
Ndoro joined Mpumalanga Black Aces at the beginning of the year and has managed to score seven Premiership goals in his half season.
Nkhatha has also been a preferred forward at AmaKhosi with his club coach Stuart Baxter preferring him ahead of Katlego Mphela, Matthew Rusike and George Lebese.
Malajila contributed immensely to his club’s championship quest, coming in with some important goals for the star-studded Tshwane outfit.
As for Sithole, he has seen little action at the Cape side due to injuries but the player’s work rate may be key to his call up.
Injuries have ruled out Kaizer Chiefs striker Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat of Mamelodi Sundowns, AmaZulu and national team captain Carrington Nyadombo and Costa Nhamoinesu.
Since the Afcon 2015 qualifiers fall outside Fifa sanctioned calendar dates, clubs are not obligated to release their players and this has led to Warriors failing to get Edward Sadomba and Ovidy Karuru due to commitments.
“Unfortunately we have had to excuse some of the players that we wanted like Karuru and Sadomba as they are involved at their clubs. However, we hope to have them for future assignments alongside those that are injured.
“All the players are expected in camp on Monday and we will have three days of training after which we will announce the travelling team,” Mussa said.
Washington Arubi of Pretoria University will battle it out for the number one spot with Dynamos’ George Chigova and Munyaradzi Diya of Highlanders.
It is in the midfield that coaches will have a little headache as there are four defensive midfielders in the form of Willard Katsande, Nqobizitha Masuku, Danny Phiri and Stephen Alimenda who has had a perfect start for Dynamos this season.
Peter “Rio” Moyo who has not been playing regularly at Highlanders has also been given a chance to prove himself in the national team set up and so is Harare City’s Talent Chawapiwa.
Pint-sized midfielder Pasca Manhanga of Triangle, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Marshal Mudewe of FC Platinum complete the list of midfielders called for camp.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Pretoria University, South Africa), George Chigova (Dynamos), Munyaradzi Diya (Highlanders)
Defenders: Hardlife Zvirekwi, Ronald Pfumbidzai (both Caps United), Partson Jaure, Sydney Linyama (both Dynamos), Milton Ncube (Highlanders), Eric Chipeta (Hwange)
Midfielders: Nqobizitha Masuku (Bantu Rovers), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Stephen Alimenda (Dynamos), Marshal Mudewe (FC Platinum), Talent Chawapiwa (Harare City), Kudakwashe Mahachi, Peter Moyo (both Highlanders), Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Pasca Manhanga (Triangle)
Strikers: Simba Sithole (Ajax Cape Town, South Africa), Cuthbert Malajila (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Tendai Ndoro (Mpumalanga Black Aces, South Africa), Kingstone Nkhatha (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa)
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