Warriors off to slow start

Sport
THE Warriors got off to a slow start in their preparations for the Cosafa Cup football tournament starting in South Africa this weekend after holding their first training session at Rufaro Stadium in the afternoon with just a handful of players.
National soccer team playerrs go through their paces at Rufaro Stadium yesterday
National soccer team playerrs go through their paces at Rufaro Stadium yesterday

THE Warriors got off to a slow start in their preparations for the Cosafa Cup football tournament starting in South Africa this weekend after holding their first training session at Rufaro Stadium in the afternoon with just a handful of players.

Just 10 players trained under the watchful eyes of head coach Kalisto Pasuwa and his assistant Saul Chaminuka who will be in charge of the team down south.

Pasuwa will remain behind to take charge of the Under-23 team to face Swaziland in an African Championship qualifier next weekend.

Goalkeeper Tatenda Munditi, Ralph Kawondera, Justice Jangano, Douglas Sibanda, Danny Phiri, Raphael Manuvire, Thomas Magorimbo, Talent Chawapiwa, Carlos Rusere and Moses Demera trained at Rufaro yesterday with Pasuwa saying other members of the team were still expected yesterday evening.

However, Pasuwa said he was expecting Marshal Mudehwe to be in camp after he was released by FC Platinum, but was yet to join camp.

Kalisto Pasuwa
Kalisto Pasuwa

“I don’t know what has happened to him. He was released by his club and was supposed to be here by now. Hardlife Zvirekwi is also supposed to be here, but I don’t know what has happened to him.

We also have Douglas Sibanda who needs to be assessed by the doctor. He is limping. The artificial turf here is hard and I think we have to train at Gwanzura (Stadium) tomorrow,” Pasuwa said yesterday.

The Warriors coach also said he was still waiting to hear on Kelvin Moyo as FC Platinum were also banking on him following reports that Zambian Aaron Katebe had been called up to the national team.

“If Katebe is going to Zambia, we might not be able to secure Moyo, but if he is not going, Norman Mapeza promised to release Moyo because they are their two centrebacks,” Pasuwa said.

The Warriors coach had initially called up Ronald Chitiyo, Godknows Murwira and Edmore Chirambadare, but decided to withdraw them as their respective clubs said they would want them for their league assignments.

Zimbabwe are in Group A of the Cosafa championships alongside, Mauritius, Namibia and the Seychelles. They get their campaign underway with a date against Mauritius on Sunday May 17 before facing off Namibia four days later.

Cosafa Cup squad: G Chigova, B Donovan, T Munditi, H Zvirekwi, D Sibanda, J Jangano, R Kawondera , D Phiri, T Magorimbo, R Manuvire, T Chipunza, T Chawapiwa , E Rusike, P Mpelele, M Mudehwe, C Mashumba, C Rusere, M Demera, N Munetsi