Pasuwa forced to make changes

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
YOUNG Warriors coach Callisto Pasuwa has been forced to make changes to his initial African Games squad after a number of the Under-23 players who helped the team qualify for Congo Brazzaville left the country to join new clubs around the globe.

Football will be part of the 11 disciplines in which Team Zimbabwe will be competing at the African Games which will run in Brazzaville from September 3-19 and the Young Warriors had submitted a 20-man squad that will be under the guidance of Pasuwa’s assistant Nation Dube.

Although Pasuwa will not be travelling to Congo owing to a bigger African Cup of Nations qualifying assignment with the Warriors against Guinea at Rufaro on September 6, the former Dynamos mentor has been actively involved in preparing the Young Warriors.

Pasuwa doubles as the Warriors and national Under-23 coach, having been mandated by ZIFA to rebuild the senior team using the bulk of the Young Warriors players. But with the two sides’ fixtures clashing the coach has had to send the Young Warriors into their age-group competition while calling on the more experienced players for the Nations Cup Group L qualifiers against Guinea.

The Young Warriors will be without skipper Wisdom Mutasa, Walter Musona, Ronald Pfumbidzai and Tinotenda Kadewere who have broken into the professional leagues of Europe. Tall defender Liberty Chakoroma and striker Thomas Chideu have also signed for Free States Stars and Ajax Cape Town in South Africa respectively.

The development forced Pasuwa into making adjustments to the squad that is now expected to join the rest of team Zimbabwe in travelling to Brazzaville.

Pasuwa who had earlier elevated Highlanders defender Teenage Hadebe to the senior team has been forced to return him to the Young Warriors and strengthen their rearguard.

This is because the coach has the luxury of choosing his Warriors defence from the like of Eric Chipeta, Partson Jaure, Costa Nhamoinesu and Milton Ncube. Pasuwa also revealed that he had resolved to include Chakoroma and Pfumbidzai in the senior team as there is a strong possibility their new clubs can release them for the Nations Cup assignment against Guinea given that it will take place on an international weekend.

The Young Warriors will begin their assignment with a date against Burkina Faso in Group A on September 7.

Meanwhile, North African giants Egypt yesterday made a late withdrawal from the African Games leaving Group B with just three teams.

According to the Confederation of African Football, the continental body could not find late replacements which means that the football competition will have seven teams fighting for the three medals up for grabs in both the men’s and women’s events. Egypt’s teams had qualified for both sections.

“Egypt has announced its withdrawal from both the Women’s and Men events of the African Games Brazzaville 2015.

“In accordance with Article 19 (B) of the regulations which states “If a team withdraws after having qualified for the Final Tournament, but before the actual start of the Final Tournament, the Organising Committee may replace it by the last team it has eliminated, if the circumstances are favourable . . . ” the two teams eliminated by Egypt in the qualifiers, Senegal (Women) and Burundi (Men) also decided against replacing Egypt due to the short notice. “In default, the group to which the forfeiting team belonged shall be composed of three teams only,’’ CAF said on cafonline.com.

Revised Young Warriors squad:

 

Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva, Donovan Bernard, Takabva Mawaya

Defenders: Blessing Moyo, Praise Tonha, Kelvin Moyo, Jimmy Konono, Teenage Hadebe, Lawrence Mhlanga, Farai Madhanhanga

Midfielders: Gerald Takwara, Chipunza, Nqobizitha Masuku, Malvin Gaki, Marshal Mudehwe, Carlos Rusere, Tafadzwa Kutinyu,

Strikers: Knox Mutizwa, Mcini Sibanda, Pritchard Mpelele

According to the Confederation of African Football, the continental body could not find late replacements which means that the football competition will have seven teams fighting for the three medals up for grabs in both the men’s and women’s events.

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