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Sikhumbuzo Moyo Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS coach Callisto Pasuwa yesterday called up a 27-member squad to prepare for the African Nations Cup qualifier against Swaziland in Mbabane on Friday. The squad includes Brendon Galloway, a star defender who turns out for Everton in the English Premiership. Pasuwa also called up two more players based in Britain — Tendai Darikwa, a right back or winger for Burnley and Macaully Bonne a forward for Colchester United.

But there was a surprise omission of on-form striker Tendai Ndoro.

Pasuwa also called up former Dynamos defender Partson Jaure who plays for Pretoria University despite the player being named in the latest match-fixing scandal to rock Zimbabwe.

The squad also includes seven locally based players who were part of the unsuccessful African Nations Championship squad.

However, it is the absence of Ndoro, who is enjoying a rich vein of form in South Africa where he plays for giants Orlando Pirates that is likely to be the talk among football followers. The former Chicken Inn forward has scored four stunning goals for AmaBhakaniya in the last two games, the last of which was the 2-0 drubbing of rivals Kaizer Chiefs.

That, however, was not enough to convince Pasuwa that Ndoro can be part of his striking personnel as he preferred Belgian based talisman Knowledge Musona, China based Nyasha Mushekwi , the Mamelodi Sundowns duo of Cuthbert Malajila and Khama Billiat as well as Matthew and Evans Rusike.

“The coach could have felt that Ndoro needed to be a bit more consistent in his performance. He is in form right now and scoring goals but he needs to do that more often. The door is not closed on him and others as yet as we have more games coming,” said Warriors manager Sharrif Mussa yesterday.

On Jaure, he said there has been no official communication to the technical team on the player’s exact involvement in the scandal apart from media reports implicating him.

“Zifa have not informed us about Jaure’s involvement and the coach feels that he can’t rely on media reports,” said Mussa.

The team is expected into camp tomorrow night ahead of first day of training on Monday.

“We hope to leave for Swaziland on Wednesday or Thursday, as you are aware the game is on Friday,” said Mussa.

The Warriors began their campaign with an away win over Malawi, beating them 2-1 before a Washington Arubi howler against Guinea at Rufaro Stadium saw the boys drop two points at home. On the other hand Swaziland shocked Guinea with a 2-1 win in a match that was played on neutral ground as a result of the outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in the West African country. Caf has since lifted Guinea’s home ban and Zimbabwe will now travel to Conakry for the return leg in September.

That match, however, will come after the June 4 home clash against Malawi.

The Warriors squad:

Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva, Washington Arubi, Donovan Bernard

Defenders: Partson Jaure, Erick Chipeta, Costa Nhamoinesu, Lawrence Mhlanga, Hardlife Zvirekwi , Bruce Kangwa, Onesimo Bhasera, Tendai Darikwa, Brendon Galloway, Elisha Muroiwa

Midfielders: Willard Katsande ,Danny Phiri, Marvellous Nakamba, Ronald Chitiyo, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Marshall Mudehwe, Macaully Bonne, Tafadzwa Kutinyu

Strikers: Knowledge Musona, Nyasha Mushekwi, Cuthbert Malajila, Khama Billiat, Matthew Rusike, Evans Rusike.