Sports / Soccer
Ndoro gets call
25 May 2016 at 07:03hrs | Views
IN-FORM Orlando Pirates forward Tendai Ndoro and midfielder Andre Dzikamai Gwaze, who plays for Polish football's most decorated club Gornick Zabrze, have been included in the Warriors squad for their Nations Cup showdown against Malawi.
The match is slated for the National Sports Stadium on June 5.
Zimbabwe could secure qualification for the 2017 AFCON finals if they beat Malawi and Guinea, who lost their coach this week in the latest turbulence to hit their camp, fail to win against plucky Swaziland on the same weekend.
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Warriors' coach Callisto Pasuwa, who was flanked by ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa and team manager Shariff Mussa, announced a 26-member squad from where he will also draw players for the international friendly match against Uganda next Tuesday.
Triangle young goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga has also forced his way into the squad, while veteran Washington Arubi has been dropped as he isn't playing at his South African side.
The 27-year-old Gwaze, who plays on the right of midfield, is a former Monomotapa and DT Africa player, who left the country in 2009 to join Polish club KS Wisla.
He then moved to Zabrze in the 2014-2015 season.
However, the club — which has won more titles than any team in Polish football — was relegated from the country's top-flight league in the just-ended season.
"He is a Zimbabwean player, I have been following him up. He once played for Monomotapa and is now playing for a club in Poland. I have watched some videos of him playing well and like I said, we have an open-door policy to anyone who plays well," said Pasuwa.
As highly-expected, Orlando Pirates forward Tendai Ndoro has been drafted into the team following his outstanding performance in the South African Premiership.
The Warriors gaffer said he will continue to look for players dotted around the globe.
He revealed that he would have wanted Sweden-based Tino Kadewere in the COSAFA team but his club said they have commitments.
"Tanaka Chinyahara (Hobro IK, Denmark), I have been following him up since he was a junior and he is doing very well and we will consider him next time," said Pasuwa.
"Tino (Kadewere), we had called him and I had considered him in the COSAFA games as we have many strikers in the AFCON squad but his club said they have fixtures as they are still playing matches."
And it appears ZIFA have turned their backs on the England-based players after the technical team did not call the trio of Burnley's Tendayi Darikwa, Everton defender Brendan Galloway and Macauley Bonne who plays for Colchester United.
Pasuwa has also dropped defenders Partson Jaure and Eric Chipeta.
Warriors manager Shariff said the University of Pretoria duo of Jaure and Arubi have not been released by their club which is still fighting for its survival in Super Diski and would be involved in play-offs.
Pasuwa said the Malawi match was a tricky encounter.
"We need to knock sense into the boys. They have been playing very well, we have a lot of guys who are playing in Europe and they look at themselves, they will say we have won already.
"But we can have good examples of teams playing here locally, a team at the bottom of the league can win against FC Platinum who are flying on the top of the table. Yah, we need to talk to them. They need to be serious and everyone, even yourselves (media) you mustn't take it as if we have won already.
"That is one game which is going to be very difficult for us in order to win at home. Remember, we have been losing games at the last hurdle and we need to be very positive in our approach," said Pasuwa.
Players such as Khama Billiat and Ndoro will be attending the South African awards night at Emperors Palace on Monday night and will only arrive on Tuesday, hours before the friendly match against Uganda.
Warriors' manager Mussa also indicated that some of Europe-based may start arriving from Monday.
The Warriors will go into camp on Sunday evening and get down to business on Monday with a few of the players expected to join in from their bases.
AFCON SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Tapiwa Chilenga (Triangle).
Defenders: Costa Nhamoinesu (Sparta Praga), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders), Onismo Bhasera (Bidvest Wits), Elisha Muroyiwa (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Blessing Moyo (Harare City)
Midfielders: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Marvelous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Kuda Mahachi (Golden Arrows), Marshal Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Farai Madhananga (Harare City), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Andre Gwaze (Gornik Zabrze).
Strikers: Knowledge Musona (Ostende KV), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg), Mathew Rusike (Helsingborgs), Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns), Cuthbert Malajila (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates).
The match is slated for the National Sports Stadium on June 5.
Zimbabwe could secure qualification for the 2017 AFCON finals if they beat Malawi and Guinea, who lost their coach this week in the latest turbulence to hit their camp, fail to win against plucky Swaziland on the same weekend.
Get breaking news and Sportszone's biggest stories instantly. Download the new Sportszone App (Android on Google Play) and personalize your experience by following your favourite teams and Sportszone writers.
Warriors' coach Callisto Pasuwa, who was flanked by ZIFA president Philip Chiyangwa and team manager Shariff Mussa, announced a 26-member squad from where he will also draw players for the international friendly match against Uganda next Tuesday.
Triangle young goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga has also forced his way into the squad, while veteran Washington Arubi has been dropped as he isn't playing at his South African side.
The 27-year-old Gwaze, who plays on the right of midfield, is a former Monomotapa and DT Africa player, who left the country in 2009 to join Polish club KS Wisla.
He then moved to Zabrze in the 2014-2015 season.
However, the club — which has won more titles than any team in Polish football — was relegated from the country's top-flight league in the just-ended season.
"He is a Zimbabwean player, I have been following him up. He once played for Monomotapa and is now playing for a club in Poland. I have watched some videos of him playing well and like I said, we have an open-door policy to anyone who plays well," said Pasuwa.
As highly-expected, Orlando Pirates forward Tendai Ndoro has been drafted into the team following his outstanding performance in the South African Premiership.
The Warriors gaffer said he will continue to look for players dotted around the globe.
He revealed that he would have wanted Sweden-based Tino Kadewere in the COSAFA team but his club said they have commitments.
"Tanaka Chinyahara (Hobro IK, Denmark), I have been following him up since he was a junior and he is doing very well and we will consider him next time," said Pasuwa.
"Tino (Kadewere), we had called him and I had considered him in the COSAFA games as we have many strikers in the AFCON squad but his club said they have fixtures as they are still playing matches."
Pasuwa has also dropped defenders Partson Jaure and Eric Chipeta.
Warriors manager Shariff said the University of Pretoria duo of Jaure and Arubi have not been released by their club which is still fighting for its survival in Super Diski and would be involved in play-offs.
Pasuwa said the Malawi match was a tricky encounter.
"We need to knock sense into the boys. They have been playing very well, we have a lot of guys who are playing in Europe and they look at themselves, they will say we have won already.
"But we can have good examples of teams playing here locally, a team at the bottom of the league can win against FC Platinum who are flying on the top of the table. Yah, we need to talk to them. They need to be serious and everyone, even yourselves (media) you mustn't take it as if we have won already.
"That is one game which is going to be very difficult for us in order to win at home. Remember, we have been losing games at the last hurdle and we need to be very positive in our approach," said Pasuwa.
Players such as Khama Billiat and Ndoro will be attending the South African awards night at Emperors Palace on Monday night and will only arrive on Tuesday, hours before the friendly match against Uganda.
Warriors' manager Mussa also indicated that some of Europe-based may start arriving from Monday.
The Warriors will go into camp on Sunday evening and get down to business on Monday with a few of the players expected to join in from their bases.
AFCON SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Tapiwa Chilenga (Triangle).
Defenders: Costa Nhamoinesu (Sparta Praga), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders), Onismo Bhasera (Bidvest Wits), Elisha Muroyiwa (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Blessing Moyo (Harare City)
Midfielders: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Marvelous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Kuda Mahachi (Golden Arrows), Marshal Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Farai Madhananga (Harare City), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Andre Gwaze (Gornik Zabrze).
Strikers: Knowledge Musona (Ostende KV), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg), Mathew Rusike (Helsingborgs), Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns), Cuthbert Malajila (Mamelodi Sundowns), Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates).
Source - the herald
