AL AHLY Benghazi forward Edward Sadomba has been cleared to play for the Warriors for the make-or-break 2015 African Cup of Nations first round, second leg qualifier against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania on June 1. TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA SPORTS CORRESPONDENT
The Warriors lost 1-0 in the first leg last Sunday.
Sadomba missed the trip to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the first leg of the qualifiers last week due to his participation in the Caf Champions League where his team played CS Sfaxien of Tunisia.
This Saturday, Benghazi will play Tunisia’s Esperance before the former Dynamos man makes the trip to Harare for the Warriors’ camp, which is expected to begin on Monday.
Warriors manager Shariff Mussa said yesterday they had spoken to Sadomba and his club and they agreed he could be released to play for the Warriors. He said they were also expecting Belgian-based Ovidy Karuru at the weekend.
“We should expect both Sadomba and Karuru at the weekend. We spoke to Sadomba’s club and they are willing to release him after playing for his club in the Champions League on Saturday. Karuru is supposed to be here this weekend as well, but Carlington Nyadombo is still injured and is out of this match,” said Mussa.
Coach Ian Gorowa had taken with him a depleted squad for the first leg following the late withdrawal by Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Willard Katsande who faked an illness, and injuries to Cape Town Ajax forward Simba Sithole and Dynamos’ Sidney Linyama.
Those withdrawals limited Gorowa’s selection option. With Fifa having ruled that these first and second round qualifiers are not on their calendar for international matches, it meant the Warriors coach had to rely more on the home-based players, the majority of whom participated at the African Nations Championships (Chan) tournament in South Africa.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Only three South Africa-based players, goalkeeper Washington Arubi, striker Cuthbert Malajila and Tendai Ndoro eventually made the trip to Tanzania.
Now Gorowa wants his best arsenal for the showdown against the Taifa Stars and has called up Sadomba and Ovidy Karuru who are expected in camp on Monday, while overlooking the Kaizer Chiefs pair of Katsande and Kingston Nkatha.
Kaizer Chiefs forward Mathew Rusike and Sparta Prague defender Costa Nhamoinesu are also still nursing injuries and will not be part of the squad to prepare for Tanzania.
Mussa said they had wanted to go into camp this weekend, but were still waiting for a response from the Premier Soccer League after they requested for the postponement of league games to enable them to start early preparations for the crucial tie.
Should their request be turned down by the PSL, the Warriors would get into camp on Sunday night, with training starting 24 hours later.
