News / National
Afcon axe falls on Knox Mutizwa
30 Dec 2021 at 02:51hrs | Views
GOLDEN Arrows striker Knox Mutizwa and six other players failed to make the cut for the final 23-man Warriors' squad that will do duty in the Afcon finals that kick-off in Cameroon next month.
The former Highlanders' forward is also one of two foreign-based players that were dropped with Temptation Chiwunga, who plays for JDR Stars in the South African First Division.
Others players dropped from the travelling party by head coach Norman Mapeza are young FC Platinum midfielder Panashe Mutimbanyoka, Cranborne Bullets defender Tapiwa Sibanda, Chicken Inn midfielder Shepherd Mhlanga and the Dynamos trio of goalkeeper Tymon Mvula defender Frank Mukarati and striker Bill Antonio.
Antonio would have made history as the youngest player to make the Warriors' squad for the Afcon finals at just 19 years of age.
While there was always an indication that locally-based players were likely to be dropped, it's the decision by the Warriors' technical team to wield the axe on Mutizwa, a player who can be trusted to change the complexion of the game in the blink of an eye, which is a surprise.
During the failed Fifa World Cup qualifiers, Mutizwa was said to have been fined by the technical team after he was found in breach of the team's code of conduct for carrying his phone to breakfast.
Zimbabwe went with five forwards, captain Knowledge Musona, Tino Kadewere, Admiral Muskwe, David Moyo and gunslinger Prince Dube.
It is hoped that the trio of Kadewere, Musona and Dube will avoid injuries that have dogged them in the recent past.
The Warriors flew out of the country yesterday in two batches, with the first leaving in the morning via Johannesburg, South Africa while the second group left in the afternoon for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where they will re-unite with the crew that went via South Africa today for their connecting flight to Cameroon.
The Europe-based quintet of Musona, Kadewere, Muskwe, Moyo and Zemura will fly directly to Yaoundé, Cameroon.
In Yaoundé, the Warriors will hold a training match against Sudan on Sunday.
"The training match against Sudan has been slated for January 2. For now this is the only confirmed engagement," said Zifa acting chief executive officer Xolisani Gwesela, who is already in Cameroon as part of the advance party.
Warriors' final Afcon squad
Goalkeepers: Petros Mhari, Martin Mapisa, Talbert Shumba
Defenders: Peter Muduhwa, Alec Mudimu, Teenage Hadebe, Jordan Zemura, Godknows Murwira, Gerald Takwara, Gilroy Chimwemwe, Bruce Kangwa, Onismor Bhasera
Midfielders: Kelvin Madzongwe, Thabani Kamusoko, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Ishmael Wadi, Never Tigere, Kundai Benyu
Strikers: Admiral Muskwe, Prince Dube, David Moyo, Knowledge Musona, Tinotenda Kadewere
The former Highlanders' forward is also one of two foreign-based players that were dropped with Temptation Chiwunga, who plays for JDR Stars in the South African First Division.
Others players dropped from the travelling party by head coach Norman Mapeza are young FC Platinum midfielder Panashe Mutimbanyoka, Cranborne Bullets defender Tapiwa Sibanda, Chicken Inn midfielder Shepherd Mhlanga and the Dynamos trio of goalkeeper Tymon Mvula defender Frank Mukarati and striker Bill Antonio.
Antonio would have made history as the youngest player to make the Warriors' squad for the Afcon finals at just 19 years of age.
While there was always an indication that locally-based players were likely to be dropped, it's the decision by the Warriors' technical team to wield the axe on Mutizwa, a player who can be trusted to change the complexion of the game in the blink of an eye, which is a surprise.
During the failed Fifa World Cup qualifiers, Mutizwa was said to have been fined by the technical team after he was found in breach of the team's code of conduct for carrying his phone to breakfast.
Zimbabwe went with five forwards, captain Knowledge Musona, Tino Kadewere, Admiral Muskwe, David Moyo and gunslinger Prince Dube.
It is hoped that the trio of Kadewere, Musona and Dube will avoid injuries that have dogged them in the recent past.
The Europe-based quintet of Musona, Kadewere, Muskwe, Moyo and Zemura will fly directly to Yaoundé, Cameroon.
In Yaoundé, the Warriors will hold a training match against Sudan on Sunday.
"The training match against Sudan has been slated for January 2. For now this is the only confirmed engagement," said Zifa acting chief executive officer Xolisani Gwesela, who is already in Cameroon as part of the advance party.
Warriors' final Afcon squad
Goalkeepers: Petros Mhari, Martin Mapisa, Talbert Shumba
Defenders: Peter Muduhwa, Alec Mudimu, Teenage Hadebe, Jordan Zemura, Godknows Murwira, Gerald Takwara, Gilroy Chimwemwe, Bruce Kangwa, Onismor Bhasera
Midfielders: Kelvin Madzongwe, Thabani Kamusoko, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Ishmael Wadi, Never Tigere, Kundai Benyu
Strikers: Admiral Muskwe, Prince Dube, David Moyo, Knowledge Musona, Tinotenda Kadewere
Source - The Chronicle
