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Speaking on the sidelines of the training session at Rufaro on Friday afternoon, Ndlovu said Benjamin Marere and Guthrie Zhokinyu, who had minor knocks, had recovered ahead of Tuesday’s final announcement of the 23-member travelling delegation.

Ndlovu decided to give Marere a rest because he knows what the former Dynamos striker is capable of delivering and does not want to rush him back into action.
“When we announce our final 23-man list that includes three goalkeepers and 20 in-field players, we believe those in camp have all been given their chance to perform. Our training programme has been affected by the news that we have to submit to Zifa the travelling delegation by Tuesday. What we were supposed to be working on shifted to what we now had to concentrate on.’’

While the Caf have set Friday as the deadline for teams to submit their final squads, the coach said Zifa indicated the Warriors had to do it earlier as the association needed time to sort out the players’ travelling visas and their uniform name tags.

Yesterday Madinda said their initial idea to announce the final team this weekend had been shelved after rains disrupted both their training sessions yesterday.
“Yesterday we could not train both in the morning and in the afternoon because of the heavy rains that pounded the city. As the technical team we felt it was not proper to announce the final travelling delegation before we do a proper analysis of the players we intend taking to Sudan. We have since asked Zifa to give us until Wednesday to submit the final 23-member squad and that is after we play a friendly against the Under-23 team who return to camp tomorrow,” added the coach.

The Young Warriors beat Zambia 3-2 in the first leg of their opening All-Africa Games qualifier in Lusaka last week and meet the same team in Harare next week.
Looking ahead, Madinda said they were keen at continuity with both the senior and junior national teams.
“The objective of the technical team is not just to look forward to the CHAN finals but we are also building the future squad for next tournaments by fusing seniors with the Under-23 players,” said Ndlovu.

A look at the team that represented the country at the inaugural CHAN tournament, held in Cote d’Ivoire two years ago, reveals some of the players have since left the country for greener pastures.
Under the guidance of Sunday Chidzambwa, the Warriors had troops like Willard Manyatera, David Kutyauripo, Thomas Sweswe, Zhaimu Jambo, Philip Marufu, Carrington Gomba, Clive Kawinga, Guthrie Zhokinyu, Thabani Kamusoko, Ovidy Karuru, Elvis Meleka and Eddie Chitato.
Sweswe and Jambo are now in South Africa, Marufu and Gomba in DR Congo with Karuru in France. The rest of the players are still plying their trade in the local Premiership.
Norman Mapeza took over the reins from Sunday Chidzambwa after the Swaziland win  in March last year and assembled a new team that made sure of the journey to Sudan by walloping Seychelles home and away in June.

There are also several players who could not make it into the squad currently in camp but are still playing locally.
Method Mwanjali, Ramson Zhuwawo, Nyasha Mushekwi, Lionel Mtizwa, Tafadzwa Rusike, Willard Katsande are in South Africa, while Ashley Rambanapasi is reportedly in Cyprus and Cuthbert Malajila is now based in Libya.

The locally-based players who campaigned for the Warriors in the two-round qualifiers against Swaziland and the Seychelles but could not make it in Madinda Ndlovu’s provisional squad include Edmore Sibanda, Evans Gwekwerere, Gilbert Banda and Khumbulani Banda.
Zimbabwe could find themselves relying on the experience of the cast of of players that took part in the 2009 CHAN finals.
Those who will be hoping for a second dance when the team is revealed on Tuesday are striker Kawinga, midfielders Archieford Gutu, Elvis Meleka, defenders Daniel Vheremu and Zhokinyu and goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube.

Coach Ndlovu added that he was happy that they are playing Niger first in the group stage. He said both teams do not know each other’s type of play and it will be an open game.
“Winning the first encounter against Niger will certainly boost the morale of the players. Getting the first three points of the tournament usually takes off pressure from both the technical team and the players.”
Madinda said he still hoped for a friendly international for his boys.
He has already agreed to release the Motor Action contingent of players to their coach Joey Antipas, as they prepare for their maiden dance in the African Champions League when they take on Cnaps Sport of Madagascar in a fortnight.
The CHAN finals run from February 4 to 24. The 16-nation tournament is to be hosted by Sudan from February 4-25. The Warriors are in Group B which besides Niger also features debutants South Africa and Ghana.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: W. Arubi (Dynamos), T. Dube (Gunners), T. Sibanda (Hwange), A. Sibanda (Highlanders).
Defenders: D. Kanye (CAPS United), G. Zhokinyi (Dynamos), D. Veremu (Gunners), B. Nyahunzvi (Black Mambas), D. Boriwondo (Hwange), G. Mapemba (CAPS United), Z. Ngodzo (Highlanders), Q. Amin (Gunners), M. Mungadzi (Ziscosteel), A. Chivheya (Lengthens)
Midfielders: C. Chiutsa (Monomotapa), E. Mudzingwa (Highlanders), A. Amidu (Black Mambas), B. Ncube (Motor Action), I. Madziva (Black Mambas), B. Marere (Dynamos), J. Ngodzo (Highlanders), D. Mukamba (Kiglon), T. Sambo (Shooting Stars), A. Gahadzikwa (Motor Action), E. Meleka (Gunners)
Strikers: N. Maroto (Gunners), C. Sibanda (Motor Action), F. Kanda (Highlanders), S. Sithole (Shooting Stars).