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Washington Arubi

Aaron Dube in Johannesburg, South Africa
WARRIORS’ goalkeeper Washington Arubi says he is missing international football competition.
Zimbabwe is not taking part in the  Africa Cup of Nations after they were bundled out of the tournament by Tanzania in May.From last weekend some countries have been involved in qualifiers and will be in action this afternoon and evening.

Arubi said being out of the tournament was hurting him as he and colleagues were missing out from taking part in the lucrative tournament.

The former Dynamos, Highlanders and Lancashire Steel goalkeeper said that as a football loving nation, Zimbabwe should in future work hard to avoid early elimination from the tournament.

Arubi believes in the quality  in the Warriors’ ranks. He urged the country to utilise the infrastructure at its disposal as it was better than other countries that proceeded to the qualifiers.

“Surely it is a huge embarrassment to watch other countries from home knowing that we should have been also playing at that level. We have to admit that in football such kind of disappointments do occur but that must not dampen the ambitions of players. It is high time we went back to the drawing board and rectify all the mistakes.”

The Pretoria University goalkeeper said: “In future our target must be to quality in all continental and world competitions.

“We have let down many people who are always rallying behind us. I urge everyone to be patient all will change and we will start making the country happy.”

The Africa Cup of Nations finals will be hosted in Morocco next year.

Arubi’s AmaTuks will be playing against Absa Premiership table toppers Kaizer Chiefs on Saturday afternoon at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg.

Partson Jaure and Denver Mukamba and goalkeepers’ trainer Tendai Tanyanyiwa are at Pretoria University.

South Africa entertain the Super Eagles of Nigeria in Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town, for their second match of the qualifiers.