Zifa NC Set To Announce Warriors Provisional Squad For World Cup Qualifiers
Zimbabwe Football Association Normalization Committee is set to announce the Zimbabwe Warriors Provisional Squad, despite struggling to find a suitable coach to lead the national team in the upcoming world cup qualifiers against Lesotho and South Africa, respectively.
It is believed a 30-member Provisional squad has been chosen by the Zifa NC ahead of the crucial world cup ties against Lesotho at Orlando Stadium in Johannesburg on June 7, before they play South Africa at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein four days later.
The Normalization Committee which is led by Lincoln Mutasa is reported to have set up a temporary committee within its structures to handle the selection of players after running out of time to announce the coach.
The selection committee is believed to have re-called most of the players that did duty during the four nations tournament in Malawi, with the addition of a few including Wolvermpton Wanderers rising star Tawanda Chirewa, Dynamos right-back Emmanuel Jalai, SA-based contingent of Washington Arubi, Ronald Pfumbidzai, Polokwane City’s highly rated forward Douglas Mapfumo, England based defender Cliff Moyo and the possible return of Yadah’s Khama Billiat among the newcomers.
Marvelous Nakamba could be ruled out of the squad as he is still recovering from injury he suffered in December 2023 at Luton Town.
With the team running out of time for proper preparations, Zifa NC is reportedly deciding to bring back the former Warriors caretaker coach Brito Belmar who took charge of the first two World cup games to continue where he left off with the team.
The Warriors lie fifth in group C with two points from as much games. While Rwanda tops the group on four points after round two followed by Bafana-Bafana who are on second position with three points. Nigeria, Lesotho and Zimbabwe are tied on two points each with Benin anchoring group c with a point after two games.
The group winner will directly qualify for the World Cup, and the runner-up could compete in the playoffs to advance to the inter confederation playoffs.
Here is the Zimbabwe Warriors probable Provisional squad for the upcoming World cup qualifiers
Goalkeepers: Martin Mapisa (Dynamos), Marley Tavaziva (Brentford B, England),Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn), Washington Arubi (Supersport United, SA)
Defenders: Cliff Moyo ( Kidderminister, England),Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns),Gerald Takwara (Ohod FC Saudi Arabia),Kevin Moyo (Dynamos FC) ,Teenage Hadebe (Tumosan Konyaspor, Turkey) ,Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders FC),Munashe Garananga (KV Mechelen,Belgium), Emmanuel Jalai (Dynamos FC), Brendan Galloway (Plymouth Argyle, England), Jordan Zemura (Udinese Calcio, Italy), Joey Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday, England), Ronald Pfumbidzai ( Supersport United, SA)
Midfielders: Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims, France), Junior Makunike (Simba Bhora),Andy Rinomhota (Rotherham United, England),Tivonge Rushesha (Reading FC, England),Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Walter Musona(Simba Bhora FC), Khama Billiat (Yadah FC).)
Forwards: Tinotenda Kadewere (FC Nantes, France),Daniel Msendami (Jwaneng Galaxy, Botswana),Tawanda Maswanhise (Leicester City, England), Bonne Macauley (Cambridge United, England), Terrence Dzvukamanja (Supersport United, SA), Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City, SA).
