The Warriors’ search for goals reached desperate levels yesterday with the call-up of eight strikers, who include Castle Lager Premier Soccer League top goal-scorer Nelson Mazivisa, into the 22-member squad that is preparing for a 2013 Afcon qualifier against Burundi on Sunday.
Mazivisa has nine goals in 10 matches and has been called up together with Caps United’s Clive Kawinga.
In addition to the pair, coach Rahman Gumbo has also called up Hwange striker Fransisco Zikumbawire.
Rodwell Chinyengetere is also back in the squad joining Dynamos front man Rodrick Mutuma, who also started training with the squad on Tuesday.
This brings the number of strikers in the squad to eight excluding players like Khama Billiat and Denver Mukamba who can also be used in the striking positions.
The Warriors drew blanks in their last two matches against Guinea and Mozambique in Fifa World Cup qualifiers as the team picked just one point from a possible six to disappoint expectant fans.
The eight worked under the guidance of assistant coach Peter Ndlovu concentrating on shooting routines at yesterday’s training session at the National Sports Stadium.
With Zimbabwe trailing 2-1 going into Sunday’s second leg, the strikers will have to be at their best to get the goals that will help propel the team to the next stage.
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Striker Knowledge Musona, who scored for the Warriors away to Burundi in the first leg, has struggled to find the target, but he is expected to shake off an ankle injury to try and end his goal drought.
He trained with the rest of the squad yesterday as did Dynamos’ Takesure Chinyama, who has also been accused of missing good chances for the team in the two matches.
But it is Kawinga’s call-up that will surprise many as the Caps United striker is yet to find the target in the Harare giants’ first nine matches of the season and Rahman Kutsanzira could have been a better option.
Assistant coach David Mandigora said in an interview that they wanted to have a look at the striker and see if he could fit into the system “We want to have a look at him just like the other guys that have been recalled, in fact we wanted him in the squad before the Mozambique game but he couldn’t come,” said Mandigora.
The call-up of Mazivisa however will not come as a surprise with the Shabanie attacker having been in top form since the season commenced.
Mutuma has more often polished the bench at Dynamos but with the way the strikers have been wasteful, he could come in and make a shout for a place.
Mandigora said that the preparations had been going on well and he was confident of a positive result this time.
“From what I saw in the first leg, I think our chances of progressing are bright considering too that we are playing at home.”
Apart from the strikers, Dynamos centre-back Patson Jaure has also been recalled into the squad which has lost Ovidy Karuru due to a rib injury.
Willard Katsande is also carrying an ankle injury but he trained with the rest of the team yesterday putting to rest fears he might miss this crucial encounter.
