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Mukamba, who has worn the captain’s armband in the previous two matches under Klaus-Dieter Pagels, the German national believes Mambare is the natural team leader from the pack.
The Zimbabwe national team left Harare yesterday and arrived in Lusaka in the evening for the tie to mark the 20th anniversary of the Gabon air disaster that wiped out a generation of Zambia’s finest football stars.

Pagels is hoping to have two training sessions today before Zimbabwe rekindle their rivalry with Zambia as the former African champions go into the match with the bragging rights after winning the last meeting between the two sides.

FC Platinum striker Nelson Maziwisa, who scored in Zimbabwe’s 2-1 defeat to Zambia when the teams last met on August 8, 2012, has once again been included in the squad.
“Masimba Mambare is going to be the captain of the team and I have selected Maxwell (Nyamupandengu) as the vice captain,” said Pagels.
“Masimba is a fine player and he is a good leader of the team.

“We need players to lead others and I have seen that Mambare can do that with these players.”
Pagels, yesterday challenged the locally based players to take lessons from Germany teams Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund that stunned their Spanish rivals Barcelona (4-0) and Real Madrid (4-1) during the Euro Champions League matches this week. “All the players are eager to do well for the team. I want players who can go out there and attack than players who stay behind,” said Pagels.

The Warriors caretaker coach took a swipe at his compatriot, Mesut Ozil, who plays for Real Madrid.
“If you watched the Champions League, how many times was Mesut Ozil’s name mentioned?

“I counted that he was mentioned by the commentators less than four times and that means he was not really involved in the game because he was hiding,” said Pagels.
Zimbabwe will be using the match to build a team that will compete in the Cosafa and African Nations Championship matches.
“Both Zimbabwe and Zambia are building new teams and I think we will be able to play our style of football,” said Pagels.

The coach has roped in new faces into the team with Chicken Inn goalkeeper Liberty Chirava expected to provide cover for Nyamupanendengu
Yesterday, Chirava, said it was a dream come true for him to graduate into the team having featured in the Young Warriors and captained the Under-20 national side.
“It’s like a dream come true for me because from the first game of the season at the club l told myself that this year l want to make an impact. Since the year began, things have been really shaping up for me,” said Chirava.

“I featured for South African team Sundowns and they are keeping an eye on me and have shown interest in me.
“The coach saw me in the match against Dynamos and was impressed. l remember in that game l told myself that l really wanted to play well. I believe with God’s guidance this year, people will see more of me.”

Another Chicken Inn player, Felix Chindungwe, was also excited to receive his first national team call-up.
“As a player when you are called to the national team it is like a promotion because playing football is our job. I will continue to work hard,” he said.
“The formation we have been doing is good because when playing football you need three players to support you and l think in Zambia we are going to win.”

The Gamecocks centreback has seen his football profile rise steadily and last year was voted as one of the Soccer Stars of the Year after a good season with the Bulawayo side.
Hwange defender, Eric Chipeta, was also happy to get his first call-up into the Zimbabwe senior team and said he has quickly fitted into the team’s style.

“Obviously, l am happy and l think my work rate shows that l deserve to be in the team. I will prove that l deserve a place by trying to play well.
“I feel this kind of passing football have always been my strength so it was rather easy for me,” said Chipere.
Black Mambas’ striker, Last Chibwiro, is also thrilled to be recognised by the German mentor.

“I am happy to be called into the senior team. l didn’t know that l was being noticed.
“The passing game needs fast players and during training it was like we have been training together for some time,” said Chibwiro.
Dynamos midfielder, Devon Chafa, is also looking forward to a good stint with the Warriors.

“I am happy to be in this team and for me it is a stepping stone. We will go and play with a positive mind and l am sure we will get a result.
“As a player you just have to adjust quickly because you will always work with different coaches and l am confident that l would be able to play to the coaches’’ instructions and deliver,” said Chafa.

FC Platinum midfielder, Kelvin Moyo, also graduates into the senior team having featured for the Young Warriors with his twin brother Elvis.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Zimbabwe president Kalusha Bwalya, who was lucky to miss the doomed flight which killed the entire team in   1993, said his association should use the match against Zimbabwe to track some of the promising talent.

“The coach Herve Renard has mentioned that some of them are very young, so we will now know where they are and where they are coming from. From here, we want a team that will play on Sunday against Zimbabwe after this intense three days of trials
“The players should know that once you get a chance you have to take it and showcase what they are able to do.

“We want to get the best of the best, that’s why we say we want to get the crème de la crème.” Kalusha told The Post newspaper in Zambia.
The Zambian football legend said there was no strong competition for national team places after the team won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations thereby contributing to the falling standards for the Chipolopolo.

He said the current crop of Chipolopolo players had been around for too long and needed to face competition from budding stars.