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Eddie Chikamhi
Senior Sports Reporter
THE Warriors are set to leave for South Africa today for the COSAFA Cup bereft of any meaningful preparations ahead of their first game at the tournament in two days’ time.
The build-up to this tournament has been stalked by a trail of chaos and high-level disorganisation demonstrated by the Lincoln Mutasa-led ZIFA Normalisation Committee.
It appears ZIFA are setting up coach Jairos Tapera for failure.
The team selection has been shambolic as, up until the final week, the Warriors squad had not been finalised after Tapera had disowned the initial squad called by ZIFA two weeks ago in favour of making his own selection based on Under-23 players.
It looked uncertain whether Zimbabwe would participate in the regional tournament this year following the blundering by the Normalisation Committee.
For the first time, a Warriors squad was only announced a few minutes before midnight as ZIFA rushed to beat Friday night’s deadline.
The team was changed again on Sunday afternoon as the confusion that has come to be associated with Zimbabwean football continued to take the centre stage.
The squad announced on Sunday was a third list called by ZIFA in two weeks for the same tournament.
The players started trooping in camp yesterday after playing for their teams in the local league on Sunday afternoon.
Zimbabwe will open their campaign against Comoros in Group B on Thursday. They will then play arch-rivals Zambia on Sunday before rounding off their round-robin games against Kenya next Tuesday.
PSL chief executive, Kenny Ndebele, yesterday wrote to the clubs advising them that they had thrashed a deal with ZIFA to minimise selections from individual clubs so that the league programme will not be affected.
“This serves to confirm that all Castle Lager PSL matches will proceed as scheduled this week. Please be advised that following our arrangement with the ZIFA Normalisation Committee, clubs are not obliged to release more than two players or officials for the COSAFA tournament,” said Ndebele.
Warriors squad:
Goalkeepers: Marley Tavaziva (Brentford), Raphael Pitisi (Highlanders), Joseph Kaunda (Manica Diamonds)
Defenders: Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield), Godknows Murwira (CAPS United), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos), Isheanesu Mauchi (Simba Bhora), Tawanda Chisi (Manica Diamonds), Malvern Hativagoni (Bulawayo Chiefs)
Midfielders: Joey Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday), Tatenda Tavengwa (Venda FC), McKinnon Mushore (Highlanders), Richard Hachiro (Ngezi Platinum), Donald Mudadi (Dynamos), Kingsley Mureremba (CAPS United), Tinotenda Meke (GreenFuel), Panashe Mutimbanyoka (FC Platinum), Juan Mutudza (FC Platinum)
Forwards: Michael Tapera (Manica Diamonds), Never Rauzhi (Bulawayo Chiefs), Takunda Benhura (Ngezi Platinum), Washington Mapuya (GreenFuel)
Online Reporter