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Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
WARRIORS coach Callisto Pasuwa is not brooking any nonsense ahead of Zimbabwe’s decisive African Nations Championships final qualifier against Lesotho at Barbourfields on Sunday and has wielded the axe on the trio of midfielder Ronald Chitiyo and defenders Hardlife Zvirekwi and Justice Jangano for indiscipline.

Pasuwa is not taking any chances in his quest to lead the Warriors to a record fourth straight CHAN finals appearance and yesterday revealed that the trio of Chitiyo, Zvirekwi and Jangano had crossed the disciplinary line by reporting for camp late without any valid excuses.

CAPS United defenders Zvirekwi and Jangano and Dynamos’ talismanic midfielder Chitiyo stand accused of failing to communicate the reasons for their absence from the Warriors camp which began on Tuesday.

Pasuwa has since roped in another CAPS United defender Stephen Makatuka as cover in a defence that is also sweating over the fitness of Highlanders’ Teenage Hadebe who has been trying to shake off a knee problem.

The Warriors coach was not particularly amused by Zvirekwi “given that he is a very senior player who should be leading by example’’.

Pasuwa said he had been hammering the need for players to have a positive attitude and show commitment to national duty and would not compromise on those principles irrespective of a player’s profile.

“Hardlife and Justice turned up late together and I asked them to go back because I would rather lose with players who are committed, focused and disciplined. Chitiyo never turned up and by the time he wanted to come in, I told him to stay wherever he was because we have been saying we have very little time to prepare and we cannot afford to have players choosing when they want to come and join camp.

“The three of them did not have any valid excuses for not heeding the call for camp and when you look at the kind of discipline and commitment shown by the likes of Danny Phiri, Raphael Manuvire and Marlvin Gaki who always report early for camp whether in Harare or in Bulawayo yet they will be coming from faraway places like Kariba and Triangle, you can see that it’s all about the wrong attitude and ill-discipline which we have to nip in the bud.

“This is also not the first time that these three players have been late for camp or absconded from training, so I am saying I will work with players that are willing and focused on fighting for the country,’’ Pasuwa said.

Zvirekwi, a 2014 Castle Soccer Star of the Year finalist, has seen his stock take a tumble this season with the right back, one of two players with CHAN experience in the current squad, also being stripped of the CAPS United captaincy on disciplinary grounds.

Pasuwa was, however, happy to note progress on some of his injured troops such as lanky forward Roderick Mutuma, Blessing Moyo and skipper Phiri, but is worried about Hadebe who once again sat training at White City yesterday.

Harare City midfielder talent Chawapihwa has also been ruled out because of injury as did his club-mate Arnold Chivheya who had been put on standby.

Away from the disciplinary issues, the trio of Chitiyo, Zvirekwi and Jangano, skipper Phiri says Zimbabwe will not read much into Lesotho’s defeat by Comoros and will not underestimate the Crocodiles when they host them in the first leg encounter at Barbourfields.

The Warriors go into battle at Barbourfields seeking to secure a comfortable result that will stand them in good stead to qualify for the CHAN finals scheduled for Rwanda next January.

Lesotho will arrive at Barbourfields with their tails between their legs after the Crocodiles were bundled out of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers by little Comoros on Tuesday night.

The Crocodiles had fought a 0-0 draw against Comoros in Moroni last Wednesday, but the Indian Ocean islanders rallied from behind to force a 1-1 deadlock at Sesotho Stadium in Maseru on Tuesday night and advance to the second round of the African Zone qualifiers on the away goals’ rule.

It is the first time in their history that Comoros had gone beyond the preliminary round of the qualifiers.

World soccer governing body FIFA also noted Comoros’ triumph and rated it as one of the major upsets of the African Zone World Cup qualifiers.

“What makes Les Coelecantes’ success even more remarkable is the fact that they have yet to win a single World Cup qualifying game. Mohamed M’Changama was the hero for his side as his goal secured the win on the away-goal rule after a scoreless first leg,’’ read fifa.com

Striker Tsepo Seturumane thrust Lesotho into the lead after 17 minutes, but the Crocodiles could not build on that lead and the early dominance they had to secure an “insurance” second goal they needed and M’Changama put paid to their hopes when he found the equaliser for Comoros after 71 minutes.

Ironically, Comoros are the team that Zimbabwe knocked out of the CHAN qualifiers in the first round with Pasuwa’s men winning 2-0 at home before being held 0-0 in Moroni.

Gritty midfielder Phiri, however, said it would be foolhardy for the Warriors to read too much into the Crocodiles’ World Cup exit and relax.

Phiri who is also the captain of Premiership log leaders Chicken Inn said they had learnt some tough lessons in the way they laboured to their first round win over Comoros.

“We are looking forward to the game on Sunday because we really need to do well and qualify for the CHAN tournament again. We have to work very hard to get the result that we want and should fully utilise home advantage and get a big win so that we are not under any pressure when we go to Maseru. Lesotho may have just been knocked out of the World Cup qualifiers by Comoros, but they will come here to fight to try and qualify for the CHAN to make up for that,’’ Phiri said.

Phiri who has had a fine season with the Gamecocks and is one of three local players to have secured regular places in the Warriors’ African Cup of Nations squad is also battling to shake off an ankle injury and be fit to lead his class of homegrown talent.

“I received a knock on the ankle at the weekend, but it’s getting better and I will start full training this afternoon (yesterday) and I hope there won’t be any difficulty,’’ Phiri said.

Phiri said they were also aware that the Crocodiles had been in camp for a long time, having also been taking part in the Nations Cup qualifiers in which they fell 3-1 to Africa’s Number One team Algeria last month.

But Phiri said the Warriors were determined to turn on a good show at Barbourfields in their quest for success.

“It has been a long time since we played at Barbourfields and I think we will do well for the sake of our fans and ourselves,’’ Phiri said.

While the Warriors are looking to impress at home and put one foot into the CHAN finals, reports from Maseru yesterday suggested that the Crocodiles’ camp has been rattled by their surprise exit at the hands of Comoros which have sparked calls for interim coach Seephephe Matete to be sacked.

“Everyone including the media was expecting Lesotho to win. We are ranked 140 on the FIFA rankings and Comoros are number 190.

“The draw is a result that the whole of Lesotho didn’t expect and people are angry with the coach. They are calling for his head and have put pressure on the Lesotho Football Association and questioning why he was given the mandate to qualify for the AFCON, WORLD CUP and CHAN when he is only interim,’’ said Retselisitsoe Makara, a sports journalist with a weekly newspaper Lesotho Today.

Makara said the Crocodiles had also been dealt a big blow following the withdrawal of the key air of centre back Ntau Lerotholi and striker Litsepe Marabe from the senior team.

The pair of is reported to have recently been attested to the Lesotho Police training college and cannot leave to play club or national team football.

“Ntau is a strong and experienced defender whose services would have been key in the game against Comoros and the coach had to call Moitheri Ntobo out of retirement to come in as his replacement.

“Litsepe was the top goal scorer last season with 22 goals from 26 matches so it was quite a blow for the coach to miss them against Comoros and they will also be missing against Zimbabwe and I don’t know if his replacement Phafa Tsosane will do well.

“Zimbabwe are even tougher opponents than Comoros and it is going to be difficult in Bulawayo,’’ Makara said.

But Phiri, skipper of the home-based Warriors is not being flattered by talk of how the hosts are a much stronger and experienced side and wants his troops to do much of the qualifying the job at Barbourfields first before they can talk of ratings.

The Warriors, who have been left to chase glory in the Nations Cup and CHAN qualifiers following their expulsion from the 2018 World Cup, are currently ranked 109 by FIFA.