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Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter
NETHERLANDS-based midfielder Marvelous Nakamba is out of the Young Warriors’ first-leg tie against South Africa in the final qualifier of the African Under-23 Championships in Harare on Sunday. Nakamba is in Austria on a week-long pre-season training camp with Vitessee, conditioning for the Uefa Europa League play-offs, which start on July 25.
National team coach Callisto Pasuwa had called up Nakamba alongside Mamelodi Sundowns’ Kuda Mahachi and Ronald Pfumbidzai, who signed for Danish topflight side Hobro IK, to beef up his side.
Mahachi and Pfumbidzai are reportedly set to report for duty today after their clubs gave them the green light to attend the match, which falls outside the Fifa calendar dates for international matches.
“I won’t be coming because as it is we are on a pre-season training camp in Austria. We flew out of Netherlands on Saturday to prepare for an early season start since we are involved in the Europa League. Because of our involvement in the Europa League, I won’t be able to make it for the Young Warriors’ assignment, but I know the guys will beat South Africa,” said Nakamba.
“However, if there are international games, which are on the Fifa calendar, my club has told me that they will release me and Zifa has to notify them on time.”
Nakamba earned his senior national team cap last month, when he came off the bench in Zimbabwe’s 2-1 win over Malawi in an Afcon qualifier in Blantyre.
Should Mahachi and Pfumbidzai make it for the trip, they would be expected to guide the locally-based players to the African Championships finals to be held in Dakar, Senegal, in December.
The eight-nation December tournament will decide who will represent Africa at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Pasuwa has kept faith with the side that battled under difficult conditions to overcome Cameroon and book a place in the African Games in Congo Brazzaville in September.
The Warriors’ gaffer included the FC Platinum pair of skipper Wisdom Mutasa and striker Walter Musona, who are on trials in Slovakia, on the basis that there had been indications they could return home in time for the match.
The Premier Soccer League has called off this weekend’s matches to ensure Pasuwa selects the best available Under-23 players for the clash against Amaglug-glug.
In-form Bosso striker Knox Mutizwa, who has been leading the Highlanders attack lately, has been rewarded for his new-found form, getting a Young Warriors call-up.
There are also places for speedy Triangle United winger Malvin Gaki, the versatile Blessing Moyo, Highlanders defender Teenage Hadebe, who is on the wish list of Ajax Cape Town and an as yet unnamed Belgian club, as well as Nqobizitha Masuku.
Young Warriors squad
Tatenda Mukuruva, Blessing Moyo, Carlos Rusere (Dynamos) Teenage Hadebe, Nqobizitha Masuku, Thomas Chideu, Knox Mutizwa (Highlanders), Marshal Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Lawrence Mhlanga, Raphael Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Donovan Bernard, Mgcini Sibanda (How Mine), Chris Mverechena, Caps United, Philana Kawedere (Harare City), Pritchard Mpelele (Hwange), Jimmy Konono (Whawha) Farai Madhananga (Flame Lily) , Gerald Takwara (Tsholotsho), Malvin Gaki (Triangle), Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona (FC Platinum) Kuda Mahachi (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Hobro IK, Denmark)
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