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Tadious Manyepo, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THERE must be something very special about Warriors coach Michael Nees.
He says he drives around even at night as he bids to watch all players around and has even acquired a Zimbabwe Defensive Driving certificate to be extra safe.
Just six months ago, he plucked out talismanic forward Khama Billiat from international retirement.
Billiat never disappointed as he helped Zimbabwe qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a game to spare.
The German gaffer also risked it out by calling to the squad forgotten goalkeeper Washington Arubi, as the Warriors had no reliable pair of hands between the posts.
The move again proved to be a masterstroke as the Marumo Gallants veteran made key contributions in Zimbabwe’s successful quest for a sixth appearance at the biennial jamboree.
He has now scored yet another huge goal after convincing former captain Knowledge Musona to come back into the fold.
Musona had called time on his Warriors career after the 2021 Nations Cup.
Nees kept the conversations he had with Musona to himself, and with the help of the player’s reserved personality, nothing ever leaked into the public domain.
Even Musona’s young brother Walter was totally in the dark.
And when Nees read Knowledge’s name when announcing his squad for the upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Benin and Nigeria next week during a packed media conference yesterday, a good number of the attendees were left stunned.
Yet it was revealed that the former Kaizer Chiefs star man was even supposed to pitch up for the national team, having already accepted to make a retirement U-turn, back in November when Zimbabwe played Kenya in a match in which they needed to avoid defeat to secure their AFCON ticket.
Nees exudes so much confidence, but he is never arrogant.
He realised the journalists had been stunned.
And he took full control of the proceedings.
“Sometimes less talk is more,” he retorted.
“Knowledge (Musona) is a good player. He will add a lot of value to the team. He was supposed to come in November, yes, November.
“We even applied for his visa (Cameroonian). He has a huge personality, and he didn’t want to steal the show since we had already won two games against Namibia.
“But he was ready to come if we had then lost to Kenya or we had encountered a major problem like suspensions or injuries. It could be that two or three players are injured or suspended, and you have to go to Cameroon and maybe get a win or a draw. So, we applied for a visa.
“It shows the positive character, and that’s what we need. Not put me first, put the team first, the country first. And that mentality we will have to set up more and more. That we have to put, everybody has to pull in the same direction.
“Everybody needs Musona to add value to the team.”
Knowledge will now be in line to become the first Zimbabwean to feature in four AFCON finals if he makes the travelling party to Morocco at the end of this year.
But before he can think of the record, he has to pitch in and help the Warriors turn their World Cup qualifiers around.
Zimbabwe hosts Benin at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban, South Africa, on Thursday next week before flying to Uyo, Nigeria, for an away date with the Super Eagles five days later.
The Warriors need to pick up the points to stay in the reckoning for a place at the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States of America, Canada, and Mexico.
They currently anchor the six-team Group C with two points, five behind leaders Rwanda after four rounds of fixtures.
Nees is inheriting the campaign, which was kicked off by Baltemar Brito, who oversaw two draws against Rwanda (0-0) and Nigeria (1-1) before Jairos Tapera presided over defeats to Lesotho (0-2) and South Africa (1-3).
And Nees, who has lost just once in six games that he has taken charge of, is eager to revive the campaign after naming a strong squad yesterday.
Despite his much-publicised injury, captain Marvelous Nakamba, who plies his trade at English Championship side Luton Town, is in the team.
Nees said he would like to have the skipper assessed by the national team medical crew before a final decision is made.
Arubi has also been named in the team, although he was hospitalised last week due to a finger injury.
The domestic Premiership is only two weeks old, but nine players have been called up, with six from log leaders Scottland — Walter Musona, Mthokozisi Msebe, Peter Muduhwa, Godknows Murwira, Tymon Machope, and Billiat.
Scottland’s fellow newboys MWOS provide goalkeeper Martin Mapisa, Dynamos have their captain Emmanuel Jalai, and Simba Bhora’s big defender Isheanesu Mauchi has also won a call-up.
“We have other players on standby who are ready to step in in case something happens,” said Nees.
He explained that Tino Kadewere had been left out because he has not been getting game time at his French side Nantes, while Belgium-based Bill Antonio has yet to regain his full fitness, having recently returned from one of the most acute sports injuries—ACL.
Warriors Squad:
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Martin Mapisa (MWOS FC)
Defenders: Jordan Zemura (Udinese), Divine Lunga (Sundowns), Gerald Takwara (Al Minaa SC), Munashe Garananga (FC Copenhagen), Sheanes Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Peter Muduhwa (Scottland), Godknows Murwira (Scottland), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos).
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi (Wolves), Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City), Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Tawanda Chirewa (Huddersfield), Khama Billiat (Scottland), Knowledge Musona (Al-Okhdood), Tawanda Chirewa (Huddersfield Town)
Forwards: Prince Dube (Young Africans), Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Supersport United), Tymon Machope (Scottland), Walter Musona (Scottland)
Online Reporter