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Shariff Mussa

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
EYEBROWS have been raised following delays in naming the national team to take on Zambia in an international friendly at Rufaro Stadium on Saturday amid reports that only Harare-based players will be called up.

The squad is now due to be announced this afternoon.

Sources told Chronicle Sport last night that the whole scam will be covered under the guise of cost issues “since the Zambians’ needs will be taken care of by Zifa”.

Warriors’ manager Shariff Mussa, however, played down the rumours and claimed the national team coaches will cast their nets across the length and breadth of the country.

“National team is Zimbabwe, not Harare. We will use players that are deserving from all over Zimbabwe,” said Mussa.

Our sources, however, were adamant that cost issues will have a huge bearing on the identity of players that will be called up for the game set for 6PM on Saturday.

“They might change in the last minute, but that seemed to be the idea. How else do you delay calling up players all locally-based?

“They will tell us that due to the time limit and cost issues, it makes sense to have players that will not need much travelling if any at all,” said the source.

Mussa said they had initially planned for a one-day training camp tomorrow.

Asked how they expect players from outside Harare to be in the capital for the tomorrow morning’s training session since the squad will be announced this afternoon, Mussa said they will have to inform the players earlier.

“I think the players will be told much earlier than that so that they arrange their travelling itinerary for them to be in time for the training session on Friday,” said Mussa.

He said they will call players with potential of making it into the final Total African Nations Cup travelling squad.