adminRay Bande Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE will launch yet another bid for continental glory amid confusion, disorder and discontent after undertaking their first training session on Wednesday — just two days before they face the Flames of Malawi in a crucial Africa Cup of Nations Group L qualifier at Kamuzu Banda Stadium in Blantyre. That morale in the Warriors’ squad is at its lowest ebb is no surprise given the widely reported last minute intervention by Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Andrew Langa to convince coach, Callisto Pasuwa to have a change of heart and once again lead a disgruntled lot into an important assignment away from home.
Irrespective of the achievements he has made with the Young Warriors of late, Pasuwa has been working without a contract while not being remunerated for his services among other issues.
Lack of finances has been cited by ZIFA as the main reason for the delay in starting preparations.
The Warriors, who were scheduled to leave for Malawai on Thursday (yesterday) regrouped on Tuesday evening in Harare and only conducted their first training session on Wednesday from about 8am to 1pm.
By Wednesday, reports from Harare indicated that trusted forward, Nyasha Mushekwi, who has been receiving rave reviews following an impressive display for his team Djurgardens in the Swedish top-flight league recently, had been ruled out of the Malawi tie owing to injury, while Kaiser Chiefs striker, Mathew Rusike was still to report for duty.
While the Warriors have displayed their confusion to the world, their opponents on Saturday (tomorrow) have shown seriousness in their preparations ahead of the Afcon qualifier match.
The Flames of Malawi went down fighting 1-2 at the giant Borg Al Arab Stadium in Alexandria against hosts Egypt a result that left them moving two places up on the Fifa world ranking to 95.
Malawi are now 26th in Africa and fifth in the Cosafa region behind Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Angola.
More importantly, the Flames of Malawi have been in camp for about a month now, after opting to remain in camp when they finished business at the Cosafa Cup tournament.
Amid all the drama, veteran midfielder, Willard Katsande, is confident that the team will get a better result in Blantyre.
Katsande, one of the senior players in this latest campaign, said they were almost used to this state of affairs.
“We are almost used to these things. We have seen this happening and it is not surprising that things are like this. At the end of the day, this is our country, we love it so much and as players we just have to play for national pride.
“I think if we focus on the work at hand we will come up with a better result. I am sure that we will be able to disappoint our hosts in Malawi irrespective of the shoddy preparations that we are going through. I am not underestimating the Malawian team, but in this game you always need to have confidence when you play against even the best on the planet,” said Katsande.
Meanwhile, early this week, Pasuwa announced a 19-man squad to take on Malawi in the AFCON 2017 qualifier.
The squad has 10 foreign-based players and currently tops the goal scoring charts.
Seven Young Warriors have been included in the squad as well, with Tsholotsho’s Gerald Takwara part of the squad.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Bernard Donovan, Tatenda Mkuruva
Defenders: Blessing Moyo, Patson Jaure, Eric Chipeta, Teenage Hadebe, Justin Jangano, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Danny Phiri,
Midfielders: Willard Katsande, Gerald Takwara, Wisdom Mutasa, Khama Billiat, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Marvelous Nakamba.
Strikers: Knowledge Musona, Nyasha Mushekwi (ruled out owing to injury), Mathew Rusike, Cuthbert Malajila.
Online Reporter