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Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS interim coach Norman Mapeza says he has not closed the door on Ipswich Town FC striker Macauley Bonne, who has repeatedly snubbed national team call-ups.

The in-form Bonne, who has eight goals in 664 minutes of football this season for the League One side, was twice called-up for national duty by former Warriors’ coach Zdravko Logarušic, but the forward chose to ignore the invitations.

“When I was appointed coach, I was told that Bonne has constantly been snubbing call-ups, which is rather unfortunate. So, when we called up the team for the Ghana match, we actually didn’t even consider him, but that does not mean the door has been completely shut for him.

“We will consider him in future, but I still need to talk to him first. I need to hear his side of the story instead of relying on one source. I will talk to him and try to understand his reasons,” said Mapeza.

He said the same position will be applied to other players.

“This is Zimbabwe we are talking about. Every player out there has a right to represent the country regardless of where they are playing. As long as they are in-form, they will get a chance to wear our national colours.

“I am a firm believer in awarding excellence and like I said before, the national team is for everyone and anyone who is enjoying game time, not just because one once represented us, no, that will not happen. We will select on merit.

We will choose players we have proof of performance, not based on what someone says,” Mapeza stated.

Meanwhile, the local Warriors contingent and technical team flew out of the country yesterday afternoon for their Fifa World Cup qualifier against Ghana on Friday. They linked up with the rest of the squad in Accra last night.
Zimbabwe need to avoid defeat to keep their slim chances alive after picking just a single point in their first two qualifies against South Africa and Ethiopia.

The Warriors and Ghana have met six times, with the Black Stars winning three and Zimbabwe once, while other two encounters ended in draws.

Their first ever clash was an international friendly in 1996 which ended deadlocked 1-1.

The two sides drew 0-0 in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in January 1997 before Ghana chalked up a 2-1 win in the second-leg.

In 2000 Zimbabwe lost both Afcon qualifiers, 4-1 and 2-1.

Zimbabwe registered their first win over Ghana in the Afcon finals in Tunisia in 2006, edging the Black Stars 2-1, with goals coming from Cephas Chimedza and Benjani Mwaruwari.