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Fungai Muderere, [email protected]

FOLLOWING the arrival of the bulk of senior national football team players in Malawi on Tuesday afternoon, the Norman Mapeza-led Warriors technical team was yesterday pleased that they managed to conduct a full training session.

The Warriors were invited to take part in a Four Nations tournament that will also feature hosts Malawi, Zambia and Kenya.

Among those who joined the squad late Tuesday were Tinotenda Kadewere, Marshall Munetsi, Jordan Zemura, Tivonge Rushesha, Macauley Bonne, Shane Maroodza, Brendan Galloway, Divine Lunga, Tawanda Maswanhise and Munashe Garananga.

This was after some of the called-up players including Emmanuel Jalai, Kevin Moyo, Junior Makunike, Martin Mapisa, Peter Muduhwa, Donovan Bernard and Walter Musona had arrived in Malawi on Monday before the team was immediately bolstered by foreign-based players Teenage Hadebe, Joey Phuthi, Gerald Takwara and Daniel Msendami.

Warriors  in Malawi

“I’m happy because yesterday (Tuesday) morning we had about 10 players. But the rest of the guys arrived yesterday (Tuesday) around 3pm. I’m more than happy that everybody is here now. We did our full training session. So we did some technical work and later  we had a three-quarter game situation. I could see the guys are pushing, the hunger is there and the attitude is very positive,” said Mapeza.

He added: “We had an integrated session, something to do with physical and technical training. They all looked okay.”

Mapeza’s charges did not conduct an afternoon training workout, as they took a rest and went to watch the country’s Under 20 side take on Malawi at Lilongwe’s Silver Stadium.

Today Mapeza and his men are expected to conduct a double session.

“Everything looks okay. You can tell even from the way the boys are dressed. It shows that we are improving from the previous camps we have had. It’s a game of football, we need to win our games, but it’s much about the assessment of these boys especially the guys who have been here before. The two objectives are to win our games and assess the new guys,” said Mapeza.

The games will be used as part of preparations for the resumption of 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June.

Peter Muduhwa

Botswana-based Msendami, rising midfielder Makunike of Simba Bhora and Dynamos defender Jalai received their first senior national call-ups, after some breathtaking consistent performances at their respective clubs.

In Botswana, Msendami, a former Highlanders player, does duty for Jwaneng Galaxy.

The trio was called into camp together with the British Brigade as the Warriors technical team thought of casting the net wider calling in little-known Maroodza, Marley Tavaziva, and Tawanda Chirewa, among others.

However, Chirewa withdrew from the squad due to personal reasons.

Captain Marvelous Nakamba misses out due to injury.

Meanwhile, Young Warriors fell 3-2 at the hands of Malawi.

Tommorow, they take on Kenya.
-@FungaiMuderere