Mbeba, Mukarati dropped…as Warriors leave for Botswana

THE country’s senior men’s football team, the Warriors, are scheduled to leave the country today for the invitational match against Botswana to be played in Gaborone on Saturday without Highlanders’ Andrew Mbeba and Dynamos captain Frank Makarati.

The match is meant to commemorate Botswana’s 57th Independence Day.

The combative pair of Mbeba and Makarati was dropped from the Warriors squad so that they could manage to represent their respective clubs in the Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final matches that are set to take place on Saturday and Sunday.

Bosso and DeMbare had three players each in the Warriors team and had to write to the Premier Soccer League requesting that their respective cup ties be postponed.

That is when it was seen fit to let Mbeba and Makarati go and do duty at their clubs.

Bosso are on Sunday set to welcome CAPS United at Barbourfields Stadium and Dynamos are set to do duty against FC Platinum at Mandava Stadium in a Saturday fixture.

At a time PSL and Zimbabwe Football Association Nornalisation Committee (NC) had agreed that national coaches would select not more than two players per club for the friendly assignment, Baltemar Brito and his assistants selected Highlanders’ Peter Muduhwa, Andrew Mbeba and Brighton Manhire.

Dynamos had Tanaka Shandirwa, skipper Frank Makarati and Donald Mudadi called up.

It was at the meeting that PSL cited the need for Zifa to consider PSL activities when planning for national teams’ games that are outside the Fifa calendar for international assignments.

Sheasham defender Thubelihle Jubane, who can play as a centreback or rightback, was reportedly one of the players called up late to join the national team camp.

In a brief interview earlier on yesterday, a member of the NC, Sikhumbuzo Ndebele confirmed that the Warriors were due to leave for the western neighbouring country today.

“They are set to leave on Wednesday (today),” said Ndebele.

Rosemary Mugadza, who is another member of the NC, also confirmed that the team was set to travel today.

The Warriors interim technical team, Brito, a Portuguese gaffer WHO boasts of having worked with celebrated ex-Real Madrid, Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan coach Jose Mourino, has Bongani Mafu and Genesis Mangombe as his assistants.

The trio’s contracts run till June 2024 and they are supposed to shape the destiny of the country’s football after being tasked by the NC to fine tune the senior national team for the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifying campaign which begins in November.

The lifting of Zimbabwe suspension from international football came just in time for the Warriors to be part of the 2026 World Cup draw.
Zimbabwe were drawn in Group C together with Nigeria, South Africa, Benin, Rwanda and Lesotho.

The Warriors team to face Botswana was announced late last week.

Meanwhile, Chicken Inn FC manager Clemence Matawu has been appointed Warriors manager and will travel with the team to Botwana.

Warriors Squad

Goalkeepers: Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum Stars)
Defenders: Peter Muduhwa, Godknows Murwira (Caps United), Farai Banda (Manica Diamonds), Qadr Amini (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Xolani Ndlovu (Chicken Inn)
Midfielders: Brighton Manhire (Highlanders), Shepherd Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Brian Banda (FC Platinum), Tanaka Shandirwa (Dynamos), Mthokozisi Msebe (Bulawayo Chiefs), Donald Mudadi (Dynamos), Davison Marowa (Herentals), Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Tinotenda Benza (Herentals)
Forwards: William Manondo (Caps United), Fortune Binzi (Manica Diamonds), Obriel Chirinda (Bulawayo Chiefs) — @FungaiMuderere