Warriors’ road to Afcon 2017

Fungai Muderere
IT has now settled into Zimbabweansaï¿½ï¿½ hearts and minds that the Warriors will really be part of Africaaï¿½ï¿½s finest in Gabon next year.

Itaï¿½ï¿½s a nice feeling that we could keep revisiting over and over again, but obviously from different dimensions to keep the spark alive.

As such, B-Metro looks at how many players did duty for the record breaking Warriors establishment.

A total of 24 players took part in the campaign with Pretoria Universityaï¿½ï¿½s Washington Arubi, Ajax Cape Town defender Milton Ncube only featuring in a single match against Guinea which ended in a one-all draw. It is a distant possibility that these two will get on the plane to Gabon unless they miraculously get back into the team card.

Another player who also had a single cap in the campaign is FC Platinumaï¿½ï¿½s pint-sized midfielder Marshall Mudehwe.

Depending on his exploits at the on going Cosafa tournament he could crawl back.

After all he was part of the Warriors that beat Swaziland 4-0 at the giant National Sports Stadium on Easter Monday.

Having managed to do duty in Malawi in Warriors colours in the first Group L qualifier Harare Cityaï¿½ï¿½s Blessing Moyo and CAPS Unitedaï¿½ï¿½s Ronald Pfumbidzai never bounced back to claim a starting place. Somehow they are the forgotten two.

Justice Jangano of Caps United and Orlando Piratesaï¿½ï¿½ Tendai Ndoro who did duty against Malawi at home in the last match are also aï¿½?one gamersaï¿½?. Ndoro as new as he is to the setup could continue provided his form at club is up there.

Former Dynamos captain Partson Jaure featured twice against Malawai (away) and Guinea (home).

A total of 12 substitutions were made from the first one to the home tie against Malawi which Pasuwaaï¿½ï¿½s men won 3-0, five players that include captain Willard Katsande, Knowledge Musona, red-hot Khama Billiat, diminutive Kudakwashe Mahachi and Chicken Innaï¿½ï¿½s gritty Danny aï¿½?Decoaï¿½? Phiri played in all the five matches.

Among others high riding goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, Cuthbert Malajila and combative Costa Nhamoinesu made four appearances.

Onismor Bhasera, Nyasha Mushekwi and Dynamosaï¿½ï¿½ ever improving Elisha Mushoriwa all had three appearances.
Eric Chipeta and Hardlife Zvirekwi are some of the players that only had two caps throughout the campaign.

Warriors Line-ups
Versus Malawi 2-1 aï¿½ï¿½ Mukuruva, Blessing, Pfumbidzai, Jaure, Jangano, Katsande, Deco, Khama, Mahachi (Chipeta), Musona (Nakamba), Malajila.

Versus Guinea 1-1 aï¿½ï¿½ Arubi, Jaure, Milton, Costa, Chipeta, Katsande, D Phiri, Khama (Mahachi), Musona, Malajila, Mushekwi (Rusike).

Versus Swaziland 1-1 aï¿½ï¿½ Mukuruva, Chipeta, Bhasera, Costa, Muroiwa, Katsande, D Phiri, Khama, Rusike (Mushekwi), Musona, Malajila (Evans rusike).

Versus Swaziland 4-0 aï¿½ï¿½ Mukuruva, Zvirekwi, Bhasera, Muroiwa, Costa, Katsannde, Nakamba (D Phiri ), Mudehwe (Billiat), Mahachi, Mushekwi(M Rusike), Musona.

Versus Malawi 3-0 aï¿½ï¿½ Mukuruva, Zvirekwi, Bhasera, Muroiwa, Costa, Katsande, Nakamba(M Rusike), Billiat, Mahachi (D Phiri ), Ndoro (C Malajila), Musona.