WARRIORS coach Rahman Gumbo yesterday said he did not call clubless veteran goalkeeper Energy Murambadoro and some of the players for the decisive 2013 Africa Cup of Nations second leg football qualifier against Angola in Luanda on October 14.
REPORT BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
Murambadoro, who was released by South African Premiership side Bidvest Wits, was among the players added onto the original 24-member squad by team manager Nyika Chifamba on Thursday night.
Murambadoro has not played competitive football since he was offloaded by Wits in August.
Swaziland-based goalkeeper Ephraim Mazarura has also been called up.
The South Africa-based trio of Lincoln Zvasiya, Kingston Nkatha and Cuthbert Malajila and Al Hilal striker Edward Sadomba were also called up after being cleared of match-fixing allegations by the Zifa Ethics Committee.
But Justice Majabvi, who now plays his football in Vietnam, was left out of the team although he was also cleared of any wrongdoing.
The additions brought the number of players in the squad to 30.
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However, when contacted by NewsDay Sport yesterday, Gumbo professed ignorance over the call-up of the additional players.
“Who called Energy? Who called the players?” Gumbo asked. “I am just reading it in the newspapers. I was not around. Maybe Chifamba would know better.”
But the availability of such players like Sadomba, Nkatha and Malajila, who have been in top form for their respective clubs, will certainly boost his attacking options.
Team manager Chifamba was tight-lipped.
“It’s difficult for me to comment. I have nothing to say at this stage,” said Chifamba.
Zimbabwe go into this match carrying what appears a healthy 3-1 lead from the first leg at Rufaro in Harare on September 9.
The Warriors need a draw to earn themselves a seat at the Africa Cup of Nations soccer table in South Africa in January next year.
Should the Warriors qualify, it will be their third appearance at the tournament having made their maiden appearance at the finals in Tunisia in 2004 under Sunday Chidzambwa before Charles Mhlauri took them to Egypt two years later in a campaign started off by Gumbo.
