Share

SA-based players crowd Warriors squad

accreditation
George Chigova of Polokwane City is one of many SA-based players whose selection has drawn mixed feelings in Zimbabwe Picture: Gerhard Duraan / BackpagePix
George Chigova of Polokwane City is one of many SA-based players whose selection has drawn mixed feelings in Zimbabwe Picture: Gerhard Duraan / BackpagePix

The PSL is proving to be a major breeding ground for Zimbabwe’s national soccer team, the Warriors, whose provisional squad for this year’s Afcon and Cosafa tournaments is dominated by players on the books of clubs such as Kaizer Chiefs, SuperSport United, Polokwane City and Orlando Pirates.

Zimbabwe national soccer team coach Sunday Chidzambwa picked as many as 16 players from the PSL for his provisional Afcon and Cosafa squad. The Cosafa tournament will be hosted in Durban from Saturday, while the Afcon showcase will kick off on June 21.

South Africa-based players included in the provisional Warriors squad include goalkeepers George Chigova (Polokwane City) and Edmore Sibanda (Witbank Spurs). Teenage Hadebe of Kaizer Chiefs, Divine Lunga and Danny Phiri of Golden Arrows, as well as Ronald Pfumbidzai of Bloemfontein Celtic, were also picked.

Read: Lorch reveals the secret behind his march to PSL top prizes

The squad named by Chidzambwa has attracted mixed feelings in Zimbabwe, although some football commentators and former Warriors players say it is unbiased.

Football commentator Ezra Kaunda said: “It is a fairly balanced team. The inclusion of South Africa-based players is inevitable. Those guys continue to impress. It is good that Chidzambwa is blending experience with youngsters such as Walter Musona.”

Rodwell Chinyengetere of Baroka FC and Evans Rusike of SuperSport United are also on the list of players picked by Chidzambwa to carry the hopes of Zimbabwe as the Warriors hunt for glory.

Marshall Munetsi and Kudakwashe Mahachi from Orlando Pirates, Khama Billiat of Kaizer Chiefs, as well as the AmaZulu FC trio of Butholezwe Ncube, Ovidy Karuru and Talent Chawapiwa are also part of the squad.

Zimbabwe was handed a relatively fair Afcon Group A, comprising hosts Egypt, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Warriors are appearing at the tournament for the third time and will open their campaign against the hosts.

Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare told City Press that the technical team had named a big squad to cover for final teams for Afcon, Cosafa and the friendly match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

“We are going to play two matches at the Cosafa tournament and then 18 players will leave for Nigeria for the friendly match on June 8, while the rest remain in South Africa,” Mpandare said.

“Five players will then be picked to follow the 18 players in Nigeria to make a 23-member squad for Afcon,” he added.

But the decision has not been without criticism, with former Warriors defender David Kutyauripo saying Chidzambwa should have cast his net beyond South Africa.

He is of the opinion that more locally based players should have been included in the squad. Only about four players based in Zimbabwe were deemed competitive enough for inclusion in the provisional squad.

“These are the same players who are called for national duty now and then, and there are some who do not deserve to be in the team. I do not think we are learning anything at the end of the day,” said Kutyauripo.

Alois Bunjira, a soccer analyst and former South Africa-based Warriors player, also believes that a few local players should have been included in the squad. He believes players such as Caps United winger Gabriel Nyoni and utility player Method Mwanjali should have made it on to Chidzambwa’s sheet.

However, one of Chidzambwa’s two assistants, Lloyd Mutasa, defended the provisional squad, saying the Warriors’ technical team had confidence in the players they had picked. He also said the players were picked on merit and warranted inclusion in the team for the two tournaments.

The squad also has Tafadzwa Rusike of Zanaco FC (Zambia) and Young Africans midfielder Thabani Kamusoko (Tanzania).

Europe-based players who are part of the provisional squad are Tinotenda Kadewere (Le Havre AC, France), Marvellous Nakamba (Club Brugge, Belgium), Admiral Muskwe (Leicester City, England), Tendayi Darikwa (Nottingham Forest, England) and Alec Mudimu (Cefn Druids, Wales).

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you believe that the various planned marches against load shedding will prompt government to bring solutions and resolve the power crisis?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes
20% - 103 votes
No
80% - 403 votes
Vote