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Mutasa was a calm figure as he began his job but the absence of the senior players from the training yesterday raised some questions from a sizeable number of their fans who witnessed the session. Skipper Desmond Maringwa, veteran Murape Murape, vice-captain George Magariro,

Guthrie Zhokinyu, Washington Arubi, Archie Gutu, Timire Mamvura, Eddie Mashiri, Augustine Mbara, Francis Mandiwanzira, Phillip Sithole, Lloyd Hlahla, Tafadzwa Maingire and Kumbulani Banda, who were all part of the squad last year, missed the first day of training.

New-signings Denver Mukamba, Martin Vengesayi, Francis Kanda and Charles Chiutsa did not attend the session as well.
Mukamba and Kanda have been registered for the African Champions League while striker Vengesayi has been overlooked. 
Mutasa said Maringwa had been excused to attend a meeting yesterday morning in his capacity as Footballers’ Union of Zimbabwe president while Magariro and Murape were sorting out some personal issues.

The coach said Zhokinyu, Arubi, Mukamba, Gutu and Chiutsa might only be able to join their teammates after the African Nations Championship finals in Sudan.
The five have been selected into the final 23-men squad set to leave for Sudan next week.
Mutasa believes that notices that training has resumed might not have been received by some players in time and he remains optimistic that they will start trooping in as from today.

“Dazzy is attending a meeting while Murape and George still have some personal issues to sort out.
“We are expecting them to come by tomorrow.
“Francis Kanda should also join us,” said Mutasa.

The former Kiglon and Highway coach said Mamvura, who featured for the Zimbabwe Under-23 team in the All-Africa Games qualifier against Zambia on Sunday, was excused from training yesterday.
Evans Gwekwerere, Benjamin Marere and Thabani Kamusoko have left the Harare giants and Mutasa would be working on replacing them.
Gwekwerere has agreed a two-year contract with CAPS United while Kamusoko is heading for FC Platinum with Marere signing up with Highfield United but could be turning out for Black Mambas this season.

Mutasa believes the squad will start taking a proper shape as the training gathers momentum.
The quartet of Mashiri, Mandiwanzira, Hlahla and Maingire have been overlooked for the Champions League and their return to the club is doubtful as they could be tempted to look for options elsewhere.
There were 35 players at yesterday’s training session with most of them new faces while some are a chip off the Kiglon bloc.