Of Chiefs and Zim stars

contingent of their Zimbabwean stars were called up for the crucial 2012 Afcon Group A encounter away in Cape Verde on October 8.
Warriors’ coach Norman Mapeza has recalled the in-form duo of left-back Zhaimu Jambo and tough defender Thomas Sweswe.
Jambo was not selected for the last game against Liberia while Sweswe was suspended.

Also in the squad is the ever-reliable midfield strongman Tinashe Nengomasha, along with the recent Chiefs signings Willard ‘Bute’ Katsande and Lincoln Zvasiya. All Chiefs’ foreign players this season are Zimbabwean.
Never before has a single foreign club provided as many five players to the Warriors.

Though Bush Bucks also had five Zimbabweans in 2004 in William Mugeyi, Dumisani Mpofu, Eddie Mashiri, Tauya Murehwa and Agent Sawu, they were never all called to the national team at the same time.
Chiefs could ironically also provide another five players to the Bafana Bafana squad to play Sierra Leone, with Itumeleng Khune, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Bernard Parker and Lehlohonolo Majoro all likely to be called up.

Another Chiefs’ connection called up is German Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim striker Knowledge Musona, who also missed the Liberia game due to injury.
While Mamelodi Sundowns also have five Zimbabweans on their books in Nyasha Mushekwi, Method Mwanjali, Esrom Nyandoro, Simba Sithole and Lionel Mutizwa, only two have been called up.

The two are Mushekwi and Mwanjali – Sithole being dropped, with Nyandoro still being ignored and Mutizwa is injured.
Mushekwi and Musona, the top two strikers in South Africa last season, are expected to lead the Zimbabwean attack. The Warriors need to beat Cape Verde and hope that Mali does not win in Liberia in order for them to qualify. A total of 11 out of the 18 players called up for the Warriors ply their trade in the PSL.

The squad
Goalkeepers
Tapuwa Kapini (AmaZulu), Washington Arubi (Dynamos, Zimbabwe)
Defenders
Method Mwanjali (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thomas Sweswe, Zhaimu Jambo (both Kiazer Chiefs), Gilbert Mapemba (Moroka Swallows), Tapiwa Khumbuyani (CAPS United, Zimbabwe), Vusa Nyoni (Germinal Beerschot, Belgium), Daniel Veremu (FC Platinum, Zimbabwe)
Midfielders
Tafadzwa Rusike, Khama Billiat (both Ajax Cape Town), Ovidy Karuru US Boulogne, France), Lincoln Zvasiya, Willard Katsande, Tinashe Nengomasha (all Kaizer Chiefs)
Strikers
Nyasha Mushekwi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Knowledge Musona (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Edward Sadomba (Al Hilal, Sudan). – Kickoff.com.