Warriors team management hopeful on Kadewere, Munetsi availability for Afcon qualifiers

21 Mar, 2021 - 00:03 0 Views
Warriors team management hopeful on Kadewere, Munetsi availability for Afcon qualifiers Tinotenda Kadewere

The Sunday News

Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior national football team management is still hopeful on the availability of two France based players, striker Tinotenda Kadewere and midfielder Marshal Munetsi for the last round of Africa Cup of Nations matches.

Zimbabwe play Botswana away in Francistown on Thursday before they clash with Zambia at the National Sports Stadium on 29 March. While the United Kingdom based players have been ruled out of the matches because of coronavirus restrictions, Warriors team manager, Wellington Mpandare said they were still hopeful Kadewere and Munetsi could be given permission by French authorities to travel to Zimbabwe.

Marshall Munetsi

Mpandare is optimistic after Kadewere’s teammate at Olympique Lyon, Memphis Depay on Friday called upon French authorities to allow him to represent his country, Netherlands. The former Manchester United player said that will be fair since French authorities are making exceptions for the France national team that travels outside of Europe to play games as well.

“We are still talking to French FA to allow the players to come. We are hopeful, when you see positive news like that (Depay post) it gives us hope. Marshal is supposed to leave Sunday and Tino Monday.

“Those two are yet to be ruled out as yet, its 50-50, we will see with the negotiations going,’’ Mpandare said.

Wellington Mpandare

National team players start arriving in Harare as from today with the likes of Kudakwashe Mahachi, Evans Rusike, Divine Lunga who are based in South Africa some of those expected to be the first to join camp. Mahachi and Rusike were in action for Kaitano Tembo’s SuperSport United in a 1-1 draw against Stellenbosch with the former on target.

“We expect to have all the players to have arrived on the 23rd, on Monday afternoon there will be workouts for all those in the country,’’ Mpandare said.

Highlanders captain, Ariel Sibanda is the only player who is already in camp where he has been working out with goalkeepers coach Tembo Chuma.

The Warriors fly out of Harare on Wednesday to Johannesburg from where they catch a flight to Gaborone and then Francistown where they will arrive late on the eve of the match.

Since some of the Zimbabwean players only arrive in Harare on Tuesday, the Warriors will not have a feel of the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium prior to the match.

Zimbabwe are second on the log with five points, a point ahead of Botswana who are also chasing a ticket to Cameroon. Bottom of the log Zambia still have a chance to qualify should they win their two matches and other results go their way. Algeria have already qualified for the tournament.

Zimbabwe Warriors squad: Ariel Sibanda, Talbert Shumba, Martin Mapisa, Kudakwashe Mahachi, Evans Rusike, Divine Lunga, Tendai Jirira, Romario Matova, Alec Mudimu, Teenage Hadebe, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Last Jesi, Tanaka Chinyahara, Knowledge Musona, Victor Kamhuka, Ovidy Karuru, Butholezwe Ncube, Perfect Chikwende, Thabani Kamusoko, Jimmy Dzingai, Gilroy Chimwemwe, Tafadzwa Rusike-@Mdawini_29

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