In-form China-based striker Nyasha Mushekwi has returned to the Warriors fold ahead of the Zimbabwe senior men’s Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) football qualifier away to Guinea next week.
BY HENRY MHARA
Warriors coach Kalisto Pasuwa yesterday named his squad for the Gabon 2017 finals, making a few adjustments to the one that assembled for the last match against Malawi.
Zimbabwe sealed qualification for the tournament with a 3-0 win over Malawi in June, but the last match remains important for Pasuwa as the team looks ahead to the finals. Pasuwa’s team tops Group L after accumulating 11 points.
Despite having already booked their seat at Africa’s greatest football showcase, the Warriors technical bench named a strong squad for the match set for the Stade du 28 Septembre in Conakry.
“This match is still important to the team because we are going to use it as a yardstick to measure our progress as a unit and our preparedness for the Gabon Afcon finals,” Pasuwa said.
The biggest omission from the squad is that of Khama Billiat, who has been given a rest following his excursions for his South African club Mamelodi Sundowns in the Caf Champions League where he has led the team to the semi-finals of the competition.
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Defender Hardlife Zvirekwi will also miss the trip due to suspension, while Elisha Muroiwa hasn’t recovered from the injury he picked in the Warriors’ memorable 3-0 win over Malawi.
Dynamos’ Godknows Murwira and Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn) are the beneficiaries of the absentees with the former receiving his first national team call-up.
Mushekwi, of Dalian Yifang in China, missed the match against Malawi due to club commitments. Despite his club, who are in China’s second-tier league, engaged during the same weekend, Mushekwi has been recalled to the Warriors’ fold.
Dalian Yifang are involved in a tussle for the two promotion places in the league, but currently sit five points off the pace with seven matches left.
Mushekwi, who hit a treble at the weekend, leads the league’s goal-scoring chart with 19 goals, one ahead of former Brazil star Louis Fabiano, and it’s unlikely that Yifang, who play Beijing Renhe on the same day the Warriors will be in Conakry, would want to release their most prized asset. The team is due in camp on Monday ahead of their expected departure three days later.
Pasuwa will be thrilled with the scoring form that his strikers have picked for their respective clubs going into the match.
Star striker Knowledge Musona has netted two goals for his Belgian side KV Oostende in four matches, while Matthew Rusike scored a goal and provided an assist for Swedish side Helsingborg IF in a 4-0 win on Wednesday.
But it was Tendai Ndoro who dominated the headlines in South Africa after scoring a hat-trick for Orlando Pirates in their 3-1 victory over Kuda Mahachi’s Golden Arrows in their season opener on Wednesday night.
Warriors squad Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Bernard Donovan (How Mine), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum) Defenders: Blessing Moyo (Maritzburg United), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Onismor Bhasera (Supersport), Costa Nhamoinesu (Sparta Prague), Godknows Murwira (Dynamos), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn) Midfielders: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Marvellous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem), Danny Phiri (Golden Arrows), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Golden Arrows), Marshall Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn) Strikers: Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang), Knowledge Musona (KV Oostende), Cuthbert Malajila (Bidvest Wits), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg), Matthew Rusike (Helsingborg IF)
