Warriors to do battle in Egypt named

WARRIORS' interim coach, Klaus Dieter Pagels, has kept faith in his new look-national team and yesterday named an unchanged 18-man side for Zimbabwe's defining World Cup qualifier against Egypt in Alexandra on March 26.

But the composition of the largely youthful side expected to revive the Warriors' 2014 World Cup campaign immediately raised some eyebrows as the team looks rather lightweight for the demanding task before them.

Pagels, thrust into the hot seat following the sacking of Rahman Gumbo, has been mandated with trying to salvage a World Cup dream that was left in tatters after the Warriors managed just a point from their opening two assignments against Guinea at home and Mozambique away.

He will also guide the Warriors during the revived Cosafa Castle Cup in Zambia in July as well as the African Nations Championships qualifiers.

But the focus at the moment is to revive the fading World Cup hopes as the Warriors seek their first win in the qualifiers.

The Warriors, then under the guidance of Gumbo, lost 0-1 to Guinea at the National Sports Stadium before drawing 0-0 with Mozambique in Maputo.

Pagels took charge of his first Warriors' assignment in an international friendly against Botswana at Rufaro on February 6 where a goal each by Khama Billiat and Denver Mukamba handed his new-look team a come from behind 2-1 victory.

The German coach, who is also Zifa's technical adviser, has sought to rebuild the Warriors by focusing on previously uncapped players.

Pagels appears to have been charmed by that team's showing against the Zebras and yesterday he retained faith in the majority of the players who featured against Botswana with Denmark-based winger Quincy Antipas and Bloemfontein Celtic newboy Rodreck Mutuma, the only additions.

There was no place, though, for Moroka Swallows right back Gilbert Mapemba who played the first half of the game against Botswana as a central defender before being replaced with Kaizer Chiefs' Lincoln Zvasiya in the second period.

The German coach, however, seems to have underestimated the magnitude of the tougher proposition that will come from former African champions Egypt by opting to keep faith in his rookies and overlooking some of the Warriors experienced players.

Pagels ignored a host of experienced players including Belgian-based Vusa Nyoni, Edward Sadomba who is still on the radar of Egyptian giants Al Ahly despite signing for a team in the United Arab Emirates, gangly AmaZulu centreback Carlington Nyadombo, Noel Kaseke who plays in Cyprus and Cuthbert Malajila who has been enjoying good form at Maritzburg United and is the current second best scorer behind Bernard Parker in the Absa Premiership.

Just like Gumbo before him, Pagels also saw no value in Chesterfield midfielder Bradley Pritchard and instead believes that the likes of Harare City's Silas Songani have the capacity to turn on the magic against the Pharaohs in Alexandra.

Mussa said the Warriors technical department had decided against the tradition of having players assembling in Harare first before embarking on their away assignment.

The Warriors team manager said the senior team would take their camp to Egypt in order to avoid losing training time due to players' travel from their respective bases to Harare.

Mussa also said the fact that they had decided to camp in Egypt had meant that Pagels would had to name his final 18 before their expected to departure for Egypt on March 21.

Warriors team:
Washington Arubi, Maxwell Nyamupangedengu, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Partson Jaure, Denver Mukamba, Ocean Mushure, Archieford Gutu, Quincy Antipas, Silas Songani, Abbas Amidu, Ronald Chitiyo, Knowledge Musona, Simba Sithole, Khama Billiat, Roderick Mutuma, Lincoln Zvasiya, Matthew Rusike, Augustine Mbara.