The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS’ gaffer, Callisto Pasuwa, will have an insight into the capabilities of his Afcon-bound squad when a full strength national team engages the Taifa Stars of Tanzania in an international friendly tie pencilled for the National Sports Stadium on Sunday.
Last weekend, Teenage Hadebe scored the solitary goal in the 55th minute that gave the Warriors the bragging rights over Zambia in yet another friendly match that only featured locally based players.
Given that the Warriors will not be in action during the World Cup qualifiers, Pasuwa’s man are using these matches to prepare for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations to be held in Gabon in January.
Locally based players were used as the game against Zambia was played outside the FIFA friendlies window that allows foreign based players to be used.
Talismanic Zimbabwe international Khama Billiat has bounced back into the Warriors squad for the international friendly against Tanzania.
Billiat’s inclusion, according to media reports, came after consultations between Callisto Pasuwa and his Mamelodi Sundowns coach, Pitso Mosimane.
Pasuwa last week indicated he would give the forward another rest but, after consulting Mosimane, fears that Billiat could be weighed down by fatigue, on the back of a busy programme which has seen him playing competitive football non-stop for the last 15 months, were dismissed.
The Warriors coach then had a change of heart and included crowd favourite Billiat in the 23-man squad for the international friendly against Tanzania on Sunday.
Sundowns recently lifted the Champions League Cup and will take some time off from their league schedule early next month to represent the continent in the FIFA Club World Cup in Japan.
The return of Billiat will be sweet news for the local fans looking to see the exciting winger in action in what will be a triumphant home-coming for him after he conquered the continent.
However, there was no space for in-form Ngezi Platinum Stars midfielder, Liberty Chakoroma, whom many would have expected to be included following his outstanding role for his club in both the just-ended Chibuku Cup tournament as well as the Castle Lager Premiership league matches.
Pasuwa has also drafted Sweden-based Philana Tinotenda Kadewere and AS Vita utility player, Oscar Machapa into the team.
Another new entry in the Warriors squad is Highlanders defender, Tendai Ndlovu. The 27-year-old was in the home-based side which beat Zambia last weekend and the coach has decided to give the former Bulawayo City man a second bite of the cherry in the squad dominated by foreign-based players.
The former Dynamos mentor has also extended an invitation to former Highlanders utility player, Bruce Kangwa who is now playing for Tanzanian side Azam.
Kangwa was at the CHAN finals in Rwanda early this year with the home-based players before securing a deal to the East African country a few months later.
The coach is casting his net wider as the Nations Cup approaches he is looking to have the England-based pair of Macauley Bonne and Tendayi Darikwa in future assignments after they sort out their identification documents, a process which has already started. The duo currently holds British passports.
The cheapest tickets will cost $3 for the rest of the ground, with bays 15 to 18 going for $5, while fans wishing to sit in the VIP will have to part with $10.
Warriors Squad
Goalkeepers: Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum).
Defenders: Onismor Bhasera (Supersport United), Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United), Bruce Kangwa (Azam FC), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Tendai Ndlovu (Highlanders), Oscar Machapa (AS Vita Club).
Midfielders: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Marvelous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem), Marshall Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Tafadzwa Raphael Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Danny Phiri (Golden Arrows), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Golden Arrows), Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns).
Strikers: Knowledge Musona (KV Oostende), Mathew Rusike (Helsingborgs IF), Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates), Cuthbert Malajila (Bidvest Wits), Philana Kadewere (Djurgardens IF), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang).
