Warriors squad named . . . as Gumbo goes for experience, promising talent

Gumbo announced at the weekend a team boasting of experience and promising talent. There were fears that after Zifa suspended 82 players, coaches would struggle to come up with a good team to take on African teams. Gumbo and his assistants David Mandigora, Richard Tswatswa and Peter Ndlovu met on Friday in the capital and finalised on the names of players to be considered for the month-end match against Burundi, the first international after Norman Mapeza, his assistant Joey Antipas and players were suspended by Zifa.
Moyo, who last played for the national senior team in the 2010 World Cup qualifier, a 4-2 loss to Namibia away, said he was happy to be back in the fold. He promised the nation that he would not be a disappointment if he made the final cut.
“I am excited about the call-up. I have been there before and I know what is expected of me by the nation and the coaches. I will fight very hard to make an impression and be part of the first team.
“The talent is there and I see nothing to stop us getting a good result against Burundi in the 2013 Afcon qualifier,” said Moyo.
A gifted defender who is fair and firm on the tackle, good in aerial situations and on the ground, Moyo has the pace and good physique to withstand Burundi attacks.
There was room for Zimbabwe’s eccentric Tapuwa Kapini of South African side AmaZulu and veteran Marlon Jani of Motor Action for the goalkeeping role.
George Chigova of Dynamos has also been called up. He is a promising young goalkeeper who has minded the goalposts for the Young Warriors with Arial Sibanda in the last two years.
Gumbo hinted on Friday that he would not be guided by a player’s age but ability. He has extensively gone for experience and recalled versatile Noel Kaseke of AC Omonia, leaders of the Cypriot league, Plymouth Argyle’s Onesimo Bhasera, Legia Warsaw’s Dickson Choto and Tapiwa Khumbuyani of Caps United.
Relatively unknown stars such as Godfrey Moyo of Motor Action and Arnold Chaka of Centre Chiefs in Botswana have also made it into the Warriors set-up.
Stylish Bulawayo boy Mandlenkosi Sibanda has at last received due recognition. It took his team BMC to tour Zimbabwe for him to convince Zimbabwe coaches that he has got it. He was a constant headache for FC Platinum and Highlanders defenders in international friendlies played last week scoring a goal in each of the matches. He finds himself competing for an attacking role in a midfield that has Dynamos’ Denver Mukamba, Quincy Antipas who plays for Danish side Sonderjyske, Vusa Nyoni of Belgian club Germinal Beerschot, Sundowns’ Esrom Nyandoro and the Amakhosi duo of Tinashe Nengomasha and Abbas Amidu.
Archieford Gutu, who moved to Europe during the Christmas break, is in the squad too.
If there is a department that is expected to rise to the occasion it is the midfield, a consistent headache for previous coaches. It has previously failed to create hard-to-miss chances for strikers but in the line-up announced on Saturday flair is expected to come from Mukamba, Sibanda and Nyoni.
Musa Mguni makes his return to the national team against the same opponents he made his debut five years ago. The FC Terek Grozny forward is one of two players in the line-up from a prominent world soccer league. He plies his trade in the competitive Russian league and his maturity is expected to be a key factor in the Zimbabwe attack where he could partner Knowledge Musona who plays in the Bundesliga.
There was room for Terrence Mandaza who holds the Botswana b-Mobile Premier League record with 42 goals in the 2010/11 season. Mandaza is now based at Platinum FC in South Africa.
Dynamos’ Rodrick Mutuma, winner of the Golden Boot last year, is among three locals that include Charles Sibanda of FC Platinum and Donald Ngoma.
Warriors squad
T Kapini (AmaZulu), M Jani (Motor Action), G Chigova (Dynamos), T Khumbuyani (Caps United), N Kaseke (AC Omonia), O Bhasera (Plymouth Argyle), G Moyo (Motor Action), D Choto (Legia Warsaw), O Moyo (Hwange), A Chaka (Centre Chiefs), T Nengomasha, A Amidu (Kaizer Chiefs), E Nyandoro (Mamelodi Sundowns), V Nyoni (Germinal Beerschot), D Mukamba (Dynamos), A Gutu (KFF), Q Antipas (Sonderjyske), M Sibanda (Centre Chiefs), T Mandaza (Platinum Stars), R Mutuma (Dynamos), K Musona (TSG Hoffeinheim), M Mguni (FC Terek Grozny).