Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa has set the pace for Zimbabwe as he named his 32 member squad for the assignment against Mauritius on Sunday 28 July 2019 in the Total 2020 CHAN Qualifiers.
According to the New Zimbabwe, ZIFA president Felton Kamambo revealed recently that the technical team, which took charge of the Warriors during their 2019 AFCON finals campaign, will remain in place for the CHAN campaign despite the team’s poor results and pressure from the fans for the coach to be sacked.
Chidzambwa has to prove now that he is the man for the job by beating Mauritius over the two legs and qualify for the second round.
Chidzambwa will lead the Warriors away in Port Louis on Sunday with the second leg is set for Barbourfields stadium in Bulawayo on August 4.
Notable inclusions in the squad includes Chicken Inn forward Clive Augusto, who is currently leading the race for the Golden Boot in the Castle Lager Premier Soccer League with 13 goals from 15 matches.
Other strikers in the squad include Dynamos new signing Evans Katema and Augusto’s strike partner at Chicken Inn Aubrey Chirinda.
FC Platinum defender Lawrence Mhlanga, who was the only locally based player in the Warriors squad at the AFCON finals in Egypt, was also included in the squad.
CAPS United midfielder Ronald Chitiyo has also been included although he has hardly received regular game time at Makepekepe as he continues his comeback from a long term injury.
There was curiously no place for Chitiyo’s teamate Joel Ngodzo who has been enjoying a superb season for the Green Machine.
Should Zimbabwe manage victory in the encounter, they will face the winners of the match between South Africa and Lesotho in the final round of the qualifiers.
Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Donavan Bernard (Chicken Inn), Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders), Talbert Shumba (Chapungu), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum).
Defenders: Lawrence Mhlanga (FC Platinum ), Partson Jaure (Manica Diamonds), Ian Nekati (ZPC Kariba), Takudzwa Chimwemwe (Harare City), Byron Madzokere (Yadah), Xolani Ndlovu (Chicken Inn), Qadr Amini (Ngezi Platinum), Frank Mukarati (Ngezi Platinum), Donald Dzingai (Triangle).
Midfielders: Ralph Kawondera (Triangle), Kudzai Chigwida (Triangle), Kelvin Madzongwe (FC Platinum), Nqobizita Masuku (Highlanders), Innocent Mucheneka (Chicken Inn), Richard Hachiro (Herentals), Donald Teguru (Ngezi Platinum), Never Tigere (FC Platinum), Blessing Sarupinda (CAPS United), Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah), Phinias Bhamusi (CAPS), Ian Nyoni (Chapungu), Malvern Gaki (Chicken Inn), Nigel Makumbe (ZPC Kariba), Ronald Chitiyo (CAPS United).
Strikers: Clive Augusto (Chicken Inn), Evans Katema (Dynamos), Prince Dube (Highlanders), Aubrey Chirinda (Chicken Inn).
