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Sibanda said the former Warriors captain had insisted on players who were his idols while growing up in Bulawayo and those that he played alongside or against.
“We have come up with an exciting list of players to curtain raise with their Harare counterparts before Mwaruwari’s All-Star cast takes to the field.
“The team consists of the generation that played before the Dream Team guys, players like Majuta Mpofu, we have Madinda Ndlovu, Adam, Agent Sawu and Willard Khumalo who were part of the Dream Team with Paul Gundani and then the next generation is his, they were together in the Young Warriors and the Warriors. They will give their Northern Region counterparts a good run for their money,” said Sibanda.
“Maphepha”, as Sibanda was affectionately known during his days, said most of the players had shown their willingness to be part of the team for what ranks as one of the biggest soccer events to be held at the National Sports Stadium.
He appealed to players to meet at Queens Sports Club on Monday evening for a briefing.
Mwaruwari is expected in the city this afternoon.
Mwaruwari has invited some well-known past and present African players to the match. Among those expected are Mwaruwari’s former teammates, Kolo Toure, Sulley Muntari and Nwankwo Kanu.
Mwaruwari has had a chequered career that started in Bulawayo where he was born; he played for Lulu Rovers and University of Zimbabwe and Air Zimbabwe Jets before a move to Jomo Cosmos in neighbouring South Africa. He had a spell on loan at Swiss side Grasshoppers, he was signed by AJ Auxerre in France before Harry Redknapp brought him to Portsmouth in 2006.
He went on to play for Manchester City, Sunderland (on loan) and Blackburn in the English premiership before returning to Portsmouth in the second English football league tier at the start of the current 2011-2012 season.
Mwaruwari played for Zimbabwe Warriors 44 times scoring 29 goals. He also captained the national team towards the end of his international career. Mwaruwari is out of contract at Portsmouth at the end of this season and he may wind up his playing days in England by playing in the South African premier league. His former mentor at Jomo Cosmos, Jomo Sono, will be in Harare for the testimonial assisting with coaching duties. Other South Africans invited to the match include Lucas Radebe, Aaron Mokoena and Steven Pienaar.
According to a local Zimbabwean website Mwaruwari is quoted as saying that among the stars who have confirmed attendance are Cameroon and Arsenal midfielder Alex Song, Ivory Coast stars Emmanuel Eboue (Galatasaray), Didier Drogba (Chelsea) and Togo and Tottenham forward Emmanuel Adebayor and Michael Essien (Chelsea). Zimbabwe’s most capped international and former captain Peter Ndlovu and another former Warrior’s skipper Noman Mapeza will feature for Mwaruwari’s All-Star side.
At the time of announcing the testimonial, Mwaruwari said: “I’m doing this especially for the fans, we’ve not had many Zimbabwean players going to Europe, where the big stars are, so this is an opportunity for the fans to see the stars playing in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“I’m planning to give the some of the funds raised from the game to charity and the rest to build a football academy.”
Mwaruwari retired from international football in 2010.
Southern Region Legends
Coaches: Gibson Homela, Ali Dube
Team manager: Ernest Sibanda
Medic: Emmett Ndlovu
Goalkeepers: Muzondiwa Mugadza, Peter Nkomo
Defenders: Ephraim Chawanda, Dazzy Kapenya, Douglas Mloyi, Henry Mckop, Gift Lunga (Junior), Paul Gundani, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Master Masiku
Midfielders: Willard Khumalo, Ronald Sibanda, Joel Luphahla, Nation Dube, Godfrey Paradza, Makwinji Soma-Phiri, Rahman Gumbo, Richard Choruma
Strikers: Zenzo Moyo, Agent Sawu, Adam Ndlovu, Madinda Ndlovu, Majuta Mpofu, Tobias Mudyambanje.—Sports Editor/Cafonline.com
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