JUST when Zimbabwe Under-23 coach Kalisto Pasuwa thought he would get the players he wants in camp for the trip to Cameroon after the Easter holiday league games, it’s even getting worse. BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
The Young Warriors coach, who had hoped to travel with the players that did duty in the first leg in Harare, ended up calling up some fringe players after several clubs declined to release their and his key players for national duty on the same grounds that the match is not on the Fifa calendar for international football matches.
After failing to secure the FC Platinum duo of Walter Musona and Kelvin Moyo, Pasuwa called up the trio of Marshal Mudewe (FC Platinum), Jimmy Konono and Livingston Genty (Hwahwa).
FC Platinum however, released Wisdom Mutasa who is also the Young Warriors captain while Caps United also allowed fullback Ronald Pfumbidzai to join camp.
Highlanders also released Nqobizitha Masuku but held onto striker Thomas Chideu while towering centre back Teenage Hadebe is reported to be injured.
Triangle also released Marlvern Gaki and Praise Tonha.
Team manager Charles Mukaronda said given their circumstances, they would travel with the 18 players they have in camp.
Mukaronda also said they were aware of the hostile reception they are likely to be subjected to by their opponents but stressed that they were psyching up the players to be prepared for any eventuality.
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“We have 18 players in camp and given our circumstances we will have to travel with these players,” said Mukaronda. “Clubs refused to release their players even after the games and given our circumstances we ended up requesting those players they do not want to use. It’s very unfortunate but we are trying to psyche up the players because we are not expecting to be treated like kings.
The coach (Pasuwa) has also been in the jungles of African football and knows what to expect but we are going to fight to get the result we want. If we could beat them at home, we can also beat them in their backyard,”
The Zimbabwe Under-23 coach was last week training with just eight players after some clubs withdrew their players in preparation for the Easter holiday games.
Pasuwa’s men go into the match carrying a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Harare. All they need is to protect their lead to go through to the finals to be held in Congo Brazaville in September.
The players who are in camp and trained yesterday are: Tatenda Mukuruva, Blessing Moyo and Carlos Rusere (Dynamos), Praise Tonha and Malvin Gaki (Triangle) Takabva Mawaya and Prichard Mpelele (Hwange), Wisdom Mutasa and Marshal Mudewe (FC Platinum), Jimmy Konono and Livingston Genty (Hwahwa) Munyaradzi Nyenye (H-city) Ronald Pfumbidzai (Caps) Lawrence Mhlanga (C-lnn) Liberty Chakoroma (Buffaloes), Gerald Takwara (Tsholotsho), Qobizitha Masuku (Highlanders) and Mgcini Sibanda(H-Mine).
