adminWorld Cup matches against Egypt and Guinea.
Zimbabwe host the Pharaohs on June 9 at the National Sports Stadium before traveling to Conakry the following weekend as the roadshow to Brazil 2014 gathers momentum.
The Warriors will round up their group assignments with a home tie against the Mambas of Mozambique.
Warriors’ coach Dieter Klaus Pagels has kept faith in the bulk of the players, whom he travelled with to Egypt in March, where they lost 1-2 in Alexandria.
Malajila, and Dynamos midfielder Devon Chafa, Chicken Inn defender Felix Chindungwe and Hwange defender Eric Chipeta are the new faces to make it into Pagels’ squad.
Last week, a team assembled of local Premiership players drew 1-1 with the Flames in Blantyre.
Dynamos goalkeeper, Artwell Mukandi, also returns to the team after he featured in a friendly match against Botswana in February as a full-strength squad beat the Zebras 2-1 at Rufaro.
The only player who has been dropped from the team, which traveled to Egypt, is Dynamos left back Augustine Mbara, who is injured.
SuperSport striker Simba Sithole is also back after he was ruled out of the reverse tie with an injury.
However, it is Malajila, who last played for the Warriors last year in Angola before the national team was disbanded when Zimbabwe failed to qualify for the 2012 African Cup of Nations in South Africa, who is making an emotional return.
There have been calls for the German mentor to consider some of the veteran players who featured in the failed campaign but the coach has decided to build his team around young players.
Again the coach has ignored calls to recall players such as Willard Katsande, Kingstone Nkatha, Nyasha Mushekwi and Onesimor Bhasera.
Yesterday, Malajila who is on the verge of joining the Brazilians following a good season in which he finished in the top five of the Absa Premiership leading scorers, said it felt good to be back in the team.
He might also be joined at the Pretoria side by fellow Warriors’ player Khama Billiat, who could be leaving Ajax Cape Town in a swap deal which have Clayton Daniels to the Mother City, according to reports from South Africa.
“It is always exciting to play for your national team. I have been there before and have been working hard waiting for another chance,” said Malajila.
“It is not going to be easy and it is not like I will simply walk into that team. l have to go and work hard to fight for a jersey in the team.”
Malajila, who started the World Cup journey last year with former coach Rahman Gumbo and featured in the opening matches against Guinea at the National Sports Stadium and Mozambique away in Maputo, believes all is not lost.
“We just have to believe in ourselves. They beat us and we can also beat them here. I don’t think l should have problems fitting into the team and their philosophy,” said Malajila.
“Passing football is basic and I have learnt that since I was a young player.
“I had a good season at Maritzburg. Even though we didn’t manage to finish in the top eight, we did not fight relegation as we usually do.
“Personally, I missed out on the Golden Boot award but this has even motivated me to work hard and will fight for it next season.”
Warriors’ manager Sharif Mussa said the 25 players, who have been called into camp and will begin training on Tuesday, will not be break camp after the match against the North Africans.
“The players should report to Zifa House on Monday at 6pm and will start training the following day,” said Mussa.
“The team will remain in camp to prepare for the Guinea trip unless there are injuries, illness, or some unforeseen circumstances or a slump in form.
“We had also wanted Quincy Antipas to be in the line-up, however he has been having a recurring injury and the club doctors want him to be given enough time to recover during the off-season.”
Squad
Washington Arubi(Pretoria University), Maxwell Nyamupangedengu(Harare City), Artwell Mukandi (Dynamos), Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United), Denver Mukamba (Wits University), Ocean Mushure (Dynamos), Archford Gutu (Kalmar FC), Silas Songani (Harare City), Abbas Amidu (Black Leopards), Knowledge Musona (Augsburg), Khama Billiart (Ajax Cape Town), Roderick Mutuma (Bloemfontein Celtics), Mathew Rusike (Kaizer Chiefs), Tafadzwa Rusike (Ajax Cape Town), Masimba Mambare (Highlanders), Lincolin Zvasiya (Kaizer Chiefs), Devon Chafa (Dynamos), Felix Chindungwe (Chicken Inn), Eric Chipeta (Hwange), Simba Sithole (SuperSport United), Partson Jaure Dynamos), Ronald Chitiyo (Monomotapa), Ovidy Karuru (OH Leuven), Nicholas Guyo(Monomotapa), Cuthbert Malajila (Maritzburg United).
Online Reporter