Zimpapers Logo

Grace Chingoma, Harare Bureau
WARRIORS coach Sunday Chidzambwa has stuck to his promises by drafting some of the country’s best players for the Zimbabwe’s defence of the Cosafa Cup in South Africa after calling in a number of powerhitters for the tourney.

The coach says he wants to use the tournament as part of his squad’s blending for their Afcon qualifiers which resume in September because he won’t get another chance to see his men in action in a competitive match.

Chidzambwa has also included the players who were either born or grew up in Europe and had previously been overlooked when it comes to national team assignments.

Part of the British Brigade finally made it late last year when Kundai Benyu, Admiral Muskwe, Macauley Bonne and Kundai Benyu heeded the call and responded to the call to feature for the Warriors in friendly matches against Lesotho and Namibia late last year.

Bradford City defender Adam Chicksen and CEFN Druids defender Alec Mudimu later turned up when the national team participated in a four-nation invitational tournament in Zambia two months ago.

And yesterday Chidzambwa roped in two more new faces when he included Bonner SC forward Kelly Lunga, the son of former Zimbabwe international Max Lunga, and Reading midfielder Andy Rinemhota in the enlarged squad.

The veteran coach also drafted his key pair of Warriors talisman Knowledge Musona and Khama Billiat who last played in the same team early last year at the Afcon finals in Gabon.

Musona’s last match in the national team colours was when he led the team to an emphatic victory in the opening Afcon qualifying match against Liberia at the National Sports Stadium in June with a hattrick.

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Billiat last featured for the national team in Gabon.

Also expected to make a return in the national team’s fold is Sparta Prague defender Costa Nhamoinesu who has returned from injury and played 90 minutes at the weekend for his Czech Republic side in a league match.

Triumphant Club Brugge midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, who was also the skipper at the four-nation invitational in Zambia in March, has been drafted in the team’s fold.

Warriors team manager, Welly Mpandare, said they hope they will get the bulk of the players in the provisional squad.

A 20-member team will travel to South Africa and the technical team is hoping that the withdrawals will be covered from the enlarged squad which they have called.

“We understand that some of the players have pressing commitments at their clubs. Singida have already indicated that they have important Cup games coming up and really want to feature Tafadzwa Kutinyu in those matches.

“We had to overlook players like Ajax Cape Town Gerald Takwara, whose team is involved in crucial relegation play-offs. We considered the importance of those games for his career and his club.

“We will consider the requests of players who might want to be excused for some reasons. We will look at every issue,” he said.

The hardworking manager added that some of the foreign players who were either born abroad, or left the country when they were young, were processing documents to acquire local passports.

“Tendayi Darikwa and Adam Chicksen last week went to our embassy in the United Kingdom to fill in application forms which will then be sent here,” said Mpandare.

He said they understand some of the players like Polokwane City goalie George Chigova and Kaizer Chiefs defender Teenage Hadebe were injured but will wait to get official confirmation from their respective clubs.

Cosafa 2018 Provisional squad

Goalkeepers: George Chigova (Polokwane City), Edmore Sibanda (Witbank Spurs), Donovan Bernard (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Chang Mariyoni (Triangle).

Defenders: Alec Mudimu (CEFN Druids), Teenage Hadebe (Kaizer Chiefs), Kelvin Moyo (FC Platinum), Byron Madzokere (Yadah Stars), Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Tendayi Darikwa (Nottingham Forest), Jameson Mukombwe (FC Platinum), Takudzwa Chimwemwe (Harare City), Costa Nhamoinesu (AC Sparta Prague), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Bloemfontein Celtic), Honest Moyo (Highlanders), Adam Chicksen (Bradford city)

Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi (Orlando Pirates), Richard Hachiro (Herentals), Andy Rinomhota (Reading), Kundai Benyu (Oldham Athletic), Abbas Amidu (Entag El Harby), Talent Chawapiwa (Baroka), Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah Stars), Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns), Ovidy Karuru (AmaZulu), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Singida United), Marvelous Nakamba (Club Brugge).

Strikers: Knowledge Musona (KV Oostende), Evans Rusike (Supersport United), Macauley Bonne (Leyton Orient), Tinotenda Kadewere (Djurgardens IF), Kelly Lunga (Bonner SC), Admiral Muskwe (Leicester City).