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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
ZIFA have revealed they are going to finalise the contract for Warriors coach Sunday Chidzambwa, which expired at the end of December last year, when they hold their board meeting this Saturday in Harare. The 67-year-old Chidzambwa yesterday named a 28-member provisional squad for their crunch AFCON qualifier tie against Congo Brazzaville on March 24 at the National Sports Stadium.

ZIFA president, Felton Kamambo, yesterday said Chidzambwa’s contract was one of the key issues to be discussed at the board meeting this Saturday.

“It’s true it expired. But we have a board meeting on Saturday. Part of our discussion is on the contracts of the technical team,’’ said Kamambo.

“As of now, Sunday Chidzambwa is the coach of the Warriors, there are negotiations that are being done at the moment.

“I am sure he is also aware we have discussed to a certain extent, so that we come up with a very attractive contract for him. But the final (decision) will be at our board meeting.’’

ZIFA board member, Chamu Chiwanza, weighed in to say decisions have already been made and will be endorsed at Saturday’s meeting.

“The situation is we inherited a system which had been (well) for a very long time and to change overnight it’s almost impossible,’’ he said.

“So, we have put in processes and measures and part of what the president is trying to say is we really made decisions which are ready to be endorsed at the board meeting just coming up on Saturday.

“But, without giving any strong signals, Mhofu, Mr Chidzambwa, is our national team coach as we speak, we are just putting the technicalities and polishing the final finishes.’’

Zimbabwe top Group G with eight points ahead of Liberia, who have seven points, while DRC and Congo-Brazzaville are sitting at six and five points.

Chidzambwa retained the bulk of the players he has been using during this campaign.

England-based Tendayi Darikwa returns for the crunch tie after missing the Liberia game after he picked up two yellow cards in back-to-back matches against the DRC in Kinshasa and Harare.

Danny Phiri also bounces back into the fold while Willard Katsande, who has been struggling to make the Kaizer Chiefs team since the arrival of German coach Ernst Middendorp last December, was dropped.

Germany-based forward Kelvin Lunga also made the squad and team manager, Wellington Mpandare said as far as his Zimbabwean passport was concerned, everything was in place.

“It won’t even take two hours for him to get a passport,’’ said Mpandare.

Provisional Squad
Goalkeepers: George Chigova (Polokwane City), Edmore Sibanda (Witbank Spurs), Petros Mhari (FC Platinum).

Defenders: Divine Lunga (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Marshall Munetsi (Orlando Pirates), Teenage Hadebe (Kaizer Chiefs), Alec Mudimu (CEFN Druids), Tendayi Darikwa (Nottingham Forest), Jimmy Dzingai (Power Dynamos), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Bloemfontein Celtic), Godknows Murwira (FC Platinum).

Midfielder: Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Azam), Richard Hachiro (Herentals), Marvelous Nakamba (Club Brugge KV), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Orlando Pirates), Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah Stars), Knowledge Musona (KSC Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen), Ovidy Karuru (Amazulu), Butholezwe Ncube (Amazulu), Kelvin Lunga (SV Rodinghausen), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Danny Phiri (Lamontville Golden Arrows), Talent Chawapihwa (Amazulu).

Strikers: Tinotenda Kadewere (Le Havre AC), Evans Rusike (SuperSport United), Admiral Muskwe (Leicester City), Knox Mutizwa (Golden Arrows), Abbas Amidu (Arar).