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Godknows Murwira

Grace Chingoma : Senior Sports Reporter

WARRIORS coach Callisto Pasuwa yesterday announced a predictably strong squad for Zimbabwe’s final 2017 Nations Cup dead rubber qualifier against Guinea in Conakry on September 4. The Warriors have already sealed their place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon but Pasuwa wants his men to complete the entire campaign unbeaten by avoiding defeat, or even winning, in the Sylie Nationale backyard.Pasuwa says a victory will also help the country improve their standings on the FIFA rankings which could play a part in the draw at the 2017 Nations Cup finals.

The draw for the 2017 AFCON finals will be held in Libreville on October 19.

As exclusively revealed by The Herald this week, the pair of Khama Billiat and Hardlife Zvirekwi will not be part of the battle in Conakry.

The gaffer has decided to give Mamelodi Sundowns star Billiat a rest due to his busy club commitments with Mamelodi Sundowns who have qualified for the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League.

CAPS United utility player Zvirekwi is serving a one-match suspension after he accumulated two yellow cards in these qualifiers.

Other players who were part of the squad in the last match when the Warriors booked their place at the AFCON finals but have been dropped are Poland-based midfielder Andrea Gwaze and Dynamos defender Elisha Muroiwa.

Muroiwa is injured but Gwaze has been overlooked.

China-based striker Nyasha Mushekwi, who was doubtful for the tie, has been drafted into the squad although it remains to be seen if he will make the long trip back home.

Mushekwi has struck a rich vein of form with his Dalian Yifang club in the Chinese League One and is currently the top goal scorer with 19 goals in 23 games.

His club is vying for promotion into the elite Chinese Super League and earlier indications were that his club might be reluctant to release him at this crucial stage.

“With Khama (Billiat) we have decided to let him rest because he has been busy with his club’s African safari commitments,” Pasuwa told the association’s official website.

“This match is still important to the team because we are going to use it as a yardstick to measure our progress as a unit and our preparedness for the Gabon AFCON finals.

“That is why only Khama Billiat, whom we thought might have fatigue issues, is the only regular player intentionally left out of the squad.

“We want to maintain our unbeaten record also,” said Pasuwa.

The players are expected to start trooping into camp this weekend.

Making it into the provisional squad are Dynamos defender Godknows Murwira and Ngezi Platinum goalkeeper Nelson Chadya.

The two were not part of the team which beat Malawi 3-0 in June at the National Sports Stadium.

Last year, Murwira was drafted into the provisional squad for the COSAFA tournament in South Africa but didn’t make it into the final squad.

Chadya, whose stock has been rising since he joined the newboys from Hartley Academy a year ago, was called for this year’s COSAFA squad but didn’t make it into the final team which went to Namibia.

However, the former Dynamos mentor has retained the regular faces such as goalkeepers Tatenda Mukuruva and Bernard Donovan, Sparta Prague defender Costa Nhamoinesu and Vitesse Arnhem midfielder Marvelous Nakamba.

On-fire Orlando Pirates forward Tendai Ndoro, who returned into the national team fold in the last home tie against Malawi, is among other strikers who include Belgium-based Knowledge Musona, Evans and Mathew Rusike and Cuthbert Malajila.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mkuruva (Dynamos), Bernard Donovan (How Mine), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum)

Defenders: Blessing Moyo (Maritzburg United), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Onismor Bhasera (Supersport), Costa Nhamoinesu (Sparta Prague), Godknows Murwira (Dynamos) Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn)

Midfielders: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Marvellous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem), Danny Phiri (Golden Arrows), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Golden Arrows), Marshall Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn)

Strikers: Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang), Knowledge Musona (KV Oostende), Cuthbert Malajila (Bidvest Wits), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg), Mathew Rusike (Helsingborgs IF).