KALISTO Pasuwa will have to make adjustments to his squad after England-based midfielder Macauley Bonne was ruled out of the Warriors clash against Guinea in Harare on Sunday becoming the third player to withdraw.
BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA
Former Kaizer Chiefs forward, Mathew Rusike who turns out for Halmstads BK in Sweden, is also a major doubt as his club was yet to confirm his availability by yesterday.
Burnley defender Tendai Darikwa had already indicated he was unavailable, while Quincy Antipas has pulled out through injury.
Zifa spokesperson Xolisani Gwesela said Darikwa and Bonne’s respective clubs had refused to release them for national duty, inspite of being the match is on the Fifa calendar for international matches.
“Darikwa and Bonne will not be available for the match against Guinea. Their respective clubs have refused to release them. There are also doubts over the availability of Mathew Rusike. His club has up to now not communicated its position to us and we will be making a follow up. We also have Quincy Antipas who is injured. But we are expecting the rest of the players including Costa Nhamoinesu to start trooping into camp tonight (last night),” he said.
Gwesela did not state why the English clubs refused to release the players.
Bonne was due to feature for his team against Sheffield United on Saturday, but it has since emerged the match was postponed, meaning the England-based star, who starred for the Warriors and scored in a friendly match against Morocco last year, will not be involved this weekend.
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The rest of the teams in League One will play this weekend.
But the good news for Pasuwa is that should Rusike be available, he will be an exciting addition to the squad after netting a brace for his new Swedish club although in a losing cause against Nyasha Mushekwi’s former club Djurgadens.
Halmstads BK were defeated 4-2 by the club which is also home to Tino Kadewere who was introduced as a substitute on 74 minutes.
Rusike also scored in the match preceding that against Orebro.
The talented forward, however, snubbed a Warriors call up for the match against Malawi, without giving reasons.
Pasuwa hopes that since the player is now settled at his club he can heed a national team call up.
The Warriors were expected to start trooping into camp last night, with training expected to commence today.
The Warriors got off to a good start in the Group L 2017 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, when beating the Flames of Malawi 2-1 in their own backyard, while Guinea were stunned by Swaziland.
Zimbabwe are joint leaders in Group L with Swaziland on three points and need to win at home to further enhance their chances of qualification for the finals.
Warriors squad: Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Milton Ncube (Ajax Cape town), Costa Nhamoinesu (Sparta Prague), Patson Jaure ( University of Pretoria), Teenage Hadebe (Highlanders), Justice Tangano (Caps United) Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Cuthbert Malajila (Sundowns), Khama Billiat (Sundowns), Kuda Mahachi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Edmore Chirambadare (Chicken Inn), Knowledge Musona (K.V. Oostende), Mathew Rusike (Halmstads BK), Nyasha Mushekwi
