Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo will use the international friendly match against neighbours Zambia at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium tomorrow night to assess home-based players, ahead of the 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier against Angola.
The team was expected to leave for Zambia by road yesterday afternoon following the arrival of Gumbo from Bulawayo with some of the players based in the Southern Region.
The Warriors are scheduled to play Angola in the first leg of the qualifiers on September 9 in Harare at Rufaro Stadium.
And, the friendly match against Chipolopolo will be a window of opportunity for Gumbo to assess some of the locally-based players with a view to include them into the main team.
With defender Arnold Chaka ruled out after playing for his club Mochudi Centre Chiefs in a Coca- Cola Cup final on Sunday, Gumbo has Botswana-based midfielder Mandla Sibanda as the only foreign-based player in the team.
Some of the players called up by Gumbo include Under-23 and Dynamos goalkeeper George Chigova, Arial Sibanda (Highlanders) defender Partson Jaure (Dynamos), Ronald Chitiyo (Monomotapa) and Denver Mukamba (Dynamos).
Top of the crop for the Warriors is leading Castle Lager Premier Soccer League scorer Nelson Mazivisa, who has banged in 13 goals from 16 matches and big Hwange striker Francesco Zvikumbawire and teammate at Hwange, Rodwell Chinyengetere.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s coach Hervé Renard has named Hwange defender Aaron Katebe in his developmental squad to face the Warriors.
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The Hwange defender was not in action at the weekend, as he was serving a one-match suspension for accumulating three yellow cards.
Hwange defeated CAPS United 3-2 in the league match at the Colliery — a result which saw the club dismissing the entire technical team including manager Sean Connor.
Chipolopolo’s developmental squad went into camp on Sunday in preparation for the game which will be played under floodlights. Squad Goalkeepers: A Sibanda, G Chigova, M Jani Defenders: P Bernard, P Jaure, K Banda, B Zabula, B Kangwa, I Mapuranga. Midfielders: B Mapfumo, D Mukamba, D Phiri, R Chitiyo, P Moyo, M Sibanda, P Matizanadzo Strikers: N Mazivisa, R Chinyengetere, R Kutsanzira, C Sibanda, F Zikumbawire
