Top Five Players Who Have Not Been Selected For COSAFA Cup
Jairos Tapera on Friday announced his long waited squad for the upcoming COSAFA Cup in Gqeberha from 26 June to July 7th before issuing another revised list on Sunday. Though the latest squad released still burst of young talent and a mixture of experienced players, however, it did not include some notable individuals who we think deserved a chance in the national team.
The Manica Diamonds gaffer, has picked a team predominantly comprising of local players and a little bit of foreign based lads in trying to strike a good balance. But given the ever-extending pool of talent Zimbabwe currently have in the diaspora, there are still a plethora of talented players that are making a strong impression to be part of the national team.
The following five players have been playing impressively in their respective clubs and therefore, rightly deserve a chance to prove themselves on the international stage.
Darlington Musariranwa
At the age of 23 and with 15 Canadian Premier League matches to his credit including 13 with FC Edmonton and two with Valour last season, Murasiranwa a Zimbabwean born but North American raised goalie is one of the players deserving a national team callup at the moment. The talented Valour FC goalkeeper who is slowly rising to be the number one choice at the Canadian top flight league is one of the Warriors top prospective goalie and a tournament like Cosafa or international friendly matches are important to integrate these players into the senior national team set up.
Abubakar Moffat
The midfielder moved to Spain in 2018, when he joined FC Malaga City Academy from AYSA, who are known for producing top players.Moffat established himself at Malaga City and became a prominent figure, at the club, featuring in a number of high-profile games, against the likes of Atlético Madrid, Sevilla CF, Granada CF and Malaga CF, before moving to Spanish Segunda division with El Palo
Moffat who is now at CF Montril after leaving El Palo at the end of the season is one player we believe is ripe for national team duty and COSAFA Cup tournament could have been an ideal step for him to get into the Warriors squad.
Jonah Farbisch
The 22-year-old attacking midfielder who came from Hamburger SV academy is slowly developing his career and has been impressive for Bundasliga 2 side FC Magdeburg where he featured 19 times for the club’s U-23 team in the NOFV Oberliga Süd, scoring ten goals and providing two assists, before moving to 3rd tier side Erzgebirge Aue to gain first team experience.
He already has a cap with Zimbabwe Warriors and a tournament like Cosafa could have necessitated him to prove his football at international level.
Prince Ndlovu
The 18-year-old Highlanders starlet who made headlines after making his Highlanders senior team debut in July 2022 when he was only 16, is one of Zimbabwe’s young talent to look forward to. Ndlovu who was dubbed the next Peter Ndlovu has the potential to fulfill his expectations if a lot of confidence is shown in him.
Playing in the Cosafa Cup tournament with the Warriors could trigger or bring forth the talent in this promising youngster.
Kundai Mukweva
The 24-year-old attacking midfielder who can also be used as a defensive midfielder has been brilliant through out the season for CD Valdepeñas playing in all 35 games of the season helping the team to achieve a historic promotion back to the Third Division after 21 years. Mukweva a former Aces Academy graduate has been in Spain for nearly four years and is slowly making his footing in the top Spanish football divisions.
A call to the national team during the COSAFA Cup tournament could help the coaches have a close look to what we believe could be one of the future Warriors strong hold.
