adminThe Botswana game has presented the local players with an opportunity to show Mapeza who in the past has overlooked them preferring some overrated foreign based players who do not even command regular starting places at their respective clubs.
Some of the Zimbabwe international who are perennial benchwarmers at their clubs include Tafadzwa Rusike of Ajax Cape Town, Kaizer Chiefs’ Willard Katsande, Ramson Zhuwawo, Gilbert Mapemba of Moroka Swallows and Oscar Machapa.
The unavailability of the foreign legion might be a blessing in disguise for some of the 17 players who travelled to Botswana for national duty.
They have to be commended for opting to play for pride and their country when some of the overrated boys opted out of the tour at the last minute because the hired small bus did not suit their status.
Zimbabwe will start their 2013 Afcon and Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifiers campaigns later this year.
The boys who are in Botswana have that as the bait.
Despite the poor travelling arrangements that saw the team endure the long journey to Gaborone squashed in a minibus, the Warriors’ manager Wellington Mpandare said they managed to train twice after arriving yesterday morning.
He said the players were looking forward to the game and was hopeful that they would stand their own against Botswana who are on their way to the finals of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.
“We arrived after midnight and the good thing is that the boys’ attitude is good as they are looking forward to the game. We had a light training session in the morning and also trained in the evening, which I believe gave the coach some light as to who to start tomorrow.
“We cannot reverse the travelling arrangements or cry about how we travelled. The team has to play and put a strong challenge,” said Mpandare.
Botswana, the 2011 Caf Team of the Year go into today’s game coming from a month-long camp and their level of preparedness in terms of fitness is better than the Zimbabwean players who are coming from the Christmas holidays.
Mapeza drafted into his team only three players from the Castle Lager Premiership Soccer Star of the Year finalists goalkeeper Washington Arubi, midfielder Cliff Sekete and Tapiwa Khumbuyani.
The finalists were chosen by journalists and a panel of Premiership coaches.
Arubi is guaranteed to guard the goalposts ahead of George Chigova with FC Platinum centreback Daniel Vheremu marshalling the defence with Qadr Amin, Guthrie Zhokinyu and Khumbuyani.
Joel Ngodzo, Sekete, Milton Makopa, Conrad Whitby and Denver Mukamba are expected to fill the starting places in midfield with Cuthbert Malajila and Charles Sibanda leading the attack.
Dynamos’ top goalscorer Rodrick Mutuma might come in as a substitute as Mapeza hinted before their Botswana departure that he did not want to rush the player.
“He had a good season at Dynamos but we must not rush him, he needs time and guidance. He can come from the bench and play a few minutes so that he gets confidence,” said Mapeza referring to Mutuma.
Squad
Washington Arubi, George Chigova, Guthrie Zhokinyu, Denver Mukamba, Milton Makopa, Cuthbert Malajila, Rodrick Mutuma, Charles Sibanda, Joel Ngodzo, Daniel Vheremu, Qadr Amini, Tendai Samanja, Pardon Chinungwa, Conrad Whitby, Masimba Mambara, Cliff Sekete, Tapiwa Khumbuyani
Online Reporter