Ajax Cape Town duo of Khama Billiat and Tafadzwa Rusike has joined the Young Warriors camp ahead of their Zone VI All-Africa Games football qualifier away to South African next week.
The arrival of the two will strengthen the team that had been hit by suspensions which saw Archford Gutu and Denver Mukamba missing the return leg against Botswana at home last month.
The good news is that Gutu who was suspended for two matches will be making an emotional return while Mukamba who was suspended for four matches is set to miss both South African encounters.
Speaking to NewsDay Sport during their morning training session at Gwanzura Tuesday, team manager Wellington Mpandare said Gutu was suspended for two matches only so he was now eligible to play.
Billiat pulled off a five-star performance during the Warriors match against Mali in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at Rufaro which Zimbabwe won 2-1. United Kingdom-based Trevor Mutero flew into the country on Monday and was part of the Young Warriors who trained under the watchful eye of Friday Phiri.
Mutero notched up four goals for the Under-19 team that played in the Metropolitan Super Cup in South Africa last month.
Efforts to bring “Silent Assassin” Knowledge Musona to play in the tie ended fruitlessly as his club, Kaizer Chiefs, refused to release him.
“They actually told us that the event was not on the Fifa calendar so there was no way they were going to release Musona. Apart from that they needed him badly to prepare for the new season, more medical attention and the Vodacom Challenge,” Mpandare added.
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Chiefs though have released their fringe striker Mandla Masango for SA’s Under-23 Olympic qualifier against Benin this weekend and the Young Warriors match.
Also missing from the team was FC Platinum midfielder Joel Ngodzo, who lost his grandmother but who will join camp next week after the weekend break.
