The Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) says it will re-engage clubs who have players wanted by Under-23 coach Kalisto Pasuwa ahead of the All-Africa Games qualifier in Yaoundé, Cameroon, during the weekend of April 11 and 12.
BY SPORTS REPORTER
“We are going to re-engage clubs over the release of players to the national team ahead of the return match in Cameroon. Of course, we had problems with clubs who withdrew their players for the weekend games because the All-Africa Games are not on the Fifa calendar.
But we are going to re-engage the clubs with players wanted by the coach. We are confident we will reach common ground,” Zifa communications manager Xolisani Gwesela said.
The Young Warriors defied odds staked against them to defeat Cameroon 1-0 with skipper Wisdom Mutasa scoring the priceless goal. Pasuwa’s men now go into the match needing just a draw to qualify to the finals to be held in Congo Brazzaville in September.
The win gave the Young Warriors an advantage going into the second leg, but Pasuwa remains cautious.
Pasuwa insisted after the victory over Cameroon that he wanted to beef up after his camp was hit by player withdrawals with clubs saying the match was outside the Fifa calendar for international matches.
“We couldn’t get all the players in camp and we were forced to use midfielders going forward. We wanted our strongest squad to play in this home fixture so that we get goals.
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“There is a problem somewhere, but I thought it’s a national issue at stake and we wanted all players available. Remember we are going away for the return match.
“We will have to hear from the authorities. We might take two or three players from the clubs and we might be told again that the match is not on the Fifa calendar.”
Pasuwa appears interested in adding striker Thomas Chideu from Highlanders to the travelling squad.
Chideu was in camp with the team, but could not play after Highlanders requested him on the eve of the match as they wanted to use him in the league match against ZPC Kariba.
The Young Warriors are set to go into camp on Monday to prepare for the return leg.
