WARRIORS coach Ian Gorowa has named a 22-member squad consisting mainly of home-based players for the trip to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for a first round first leg of the 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier against the hosts on May 18.
TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT The Warriors gaffer has retained the majority of the players that played at the African Championships tournament where Zimbabwe managed to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
He picked 16 home-based players and called up only six South African-based players.
Team manager Shariff Mussa in releasing the squad yesterday, said the coach had wanted to bring in more foreign-based players, but some of them were either injured or had club commitments.
Gorowa has also added new faces in the squad with Dynamos midfielder Sidney Linyama, Bantu Rovers midfielder Nqobizitha Masuku, FC Platinum’s Marshal Mudewe making the cut.
There is space for Dynamos hard-tackling midfielder Stephen Alimenda.
From South Africa Gorowa called up Kaizer Chiefs’ midfielder Willard Katsande and Kingston Nkatha, Sundowns’ striker Cuthbert Malajila, Ajax Cape Town front man Simba Sithole and Mpumalanga Black Aces hitman Tendai Ndoro.
“The coach had wanted to call up players like Costa Nhamoinesu and Carlington Nyadombo, but both of them are injured. He also wanted Ovidy Karuru and Edward Sadomba, but they have club commitments.
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“The situation has been made difficult by Fifa who announced that clubs were not compelled to release players for international duty as these matches fall outside the Fifa calendar for international matches.
“The players called up should report for camp on Monday with training starting on Tuesday. The team will be trimmed to the final 18 before departure either on Thursday or Friday,” Mussa said.
Gorowa’s men will host the Taifa Stars in the return leg in Harare in two weeks’ time.
Should the Warriors win against Tanzania they will face the winner between Mozambique and South Sudan and if they advance, they will join neighbours, Zambia, Niger and Cape Verde in Group E for the right to play at the continent’s biggest football showcase to be staged in Morocco.
Squad Goalkeepers: W Arubi, G Chigova, M Diya
Defenders: H Zvirekwi, E Chipeta, P Jaure, S Linyama, M Ncube, R Pfumbidzai
Midfielders: W Katsande, D Phiri, P Manhanga, S Alimenda, N Masuku, P Moyo, M Mudewe, T Chawapiwa,
Strikers: K Mahachi, T Ndoro, S Sithole (Ajax Cape Town), K Nkatha, C Malajila
