ZIFA commits to Warriors paperwork

Sports Reporter

ZIFA Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa says the association does not anticipate challenges in securing the Europe based players that have been called for the first time to represent Zimbabwe in the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

Zimbabwe are set to play Rwanda and Nigeria on November 15 and 19 and coach Baltemar Brito has cast his net wide to include some players that were either born or were bred in the diaspora, and have little connection with their mother land.

Some of the players previously did not have Zimbabwean passports while others are identified with the nationalities of their adopted countries.

However, ZIFA Normalisation Committee chairman Lincoln Mutasa yesterday told the Zimpapers Sports Hub that all the paperwork relating to the players was being attended to and would be completed by the time the World Cup qualifiers kick off.

“The papers are being processed,” he said.

“The office is putting in efforts to make sure that everything is in place for the players to come and play for Zimbabwe,” said Mutasa.  The Warriors’ foreign-based players will fly direct to Rwanda where they are set to set up base before the two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Coach Baltemar Brito and his assistants are set to leave on November 13 with a band of locally based players and will meet up with the foreign contingent in the Central African nation.

Zimbabwe, who are in Group C, will begin their World Cup bid with a clash against Rwanda away on November 15 at Huye Stadium in Butare, a district southwest of the capital Kigali.

They will then host Nigeria’s Super Eagles at the same venue four days later in what is their first home match of the campaign.

Mutasa yesterday told the Zimpapers Sports that the two matches, to be played inside a space of four days, posed a logistical challenge, hence the decision to fly the foreign-based players direct to Rwanda.

“Because of the time limitations and to cut on the logistical challenges, the players will fly to Rwanda at the earliest possible opportunity. They will train in Rwanda ahead of the matches.

“The FIFA window opens on November 13. So, we expect the players to be with their clubs upto the 12th and then they report for duty the next day. But those with late matches may come a bit late,” said Mutasa.

Warriors’ provisional squad

Goalkeepers: Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn), Washington Arubi (SuperSport United), Martin Mapisa (FC Malaga City), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford)

Defenders: Tendayi Darikwa (Apollon Limassol), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders), Frank Makarati (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Houston Dynamo), Munashe Garan’anga (Sheriff Tiraspol), Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle), Jordan Zemura (Udinese), Tivonge Rushesha (Reading)

Midfielders: Brian Banda (FC Platinum), Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims), Andy Rinomhota (Cardiff City), Marvelous Nakamba (Luton Town), Gerald Takwara (Ohod), Isaac Mabaya (Liverpool), Tanaka Shandirwa (Dynamos)

Forwards: Obriel Chirinda (Bulawayo Chiefs), Prince Dube (Azam), Tinotenda Kadewere (Lyon), Admiral Muskwe (Exeter City), Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Terrence Dzvukamanja (SuperSport United), Leon Chiwome (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Tawanda Maswanhise (Leicester City)