Ricky Zililo, Senior Sports Reporter
WARRIORS coach Callisto Pasuwa yesterday showed that he means business ahead of the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifier against Lesotho at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo by cracking the whip on late comers.
Pasuwa sent away the Caps United pair of Hardlife Zvirekwi and Justice Jangano for joining the team yesterday morning instead of Monday evening like the rest of the players called into camp.
Pasuwa, who has also ruled out complacency against Lesotho, said he only wants dedicated players and has replaced Zvirekwi with teammate Stephen Makatuka.
The national team gaffer revealed that he also shut out Dynamos midfielder Ronald Chitiyo.
Pasuwa highlighted lack of commitment as the reason for closing the door on Zvirekwi, Jangano and Chitiyo.
“I had to tell the three boys (Zvirekwi, Jangano and Chitiyo) from Harare who didn’t pitch up for Tuesday sessions not to come. We’re saying that if we call up a player like Zvirekwi, I expect him to be very much behaved. I couldn’t understand his attitude. We called him on Monday; he was supposed to be here on Tuesday morning, but he only came today (yesterday) and I had to tell him to go back. I’ve replaced him with Makatuka,” said Pasuwa.
“And again we had Chitiyo; if I can track history, we called Chitiyo and Zvirekwi for the Comoros game and they were the last to come. We called them again for the Afcon qualifier against Guinea and again they were the last to come. Their attitude is wrong because what message are they sending to the younger players in camp? Most of the players we’ve called are Under-23 and need to learn from these senior players. Because of their negative attitude, we’ve decided that they should stay at home until a time that they are sure they want to play for the nation.”
Pasuwa will, however, not be replacing Harare City midfielder Talent Chawapihwa, who was excused after his club communicated that the player picked up an injury against Dynamos.
Pasuwa said he has equally good players to play in central midfield in the mould of Nqobizitha Masuku and Raphael Kutinyu while Tichaona Chipunza, Raphael Manuvire, Malvern Gaki and Marshal Mudehwe can play as wingers.
The other worry the gaffer has is that of injured skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri, who sat out the morning session alongside defender Teenage Hadebe.
Phiri hurt his ankle after landing awkwardly at the training ground and Pasuwa decided to rest him for the morning session. He was, however, involved in the afternoon session.
Hadebe is said to be nursing a knee injury and the team doctors are monitoring his progress.
“Deco had a knock on the ankle against How Mine. This pitch (White City Stadium) is very hard and bumpy and we thought of excusing him. As for Teenage, we will hear from the doctors and if he is ruled out for the Lesotho game, we will have to look elsewhere,” said Pasuwa.
Arnold Chiveya could have been Hadebe’s direct replacement, but he is also nursing an injury.
During his two-hour long morning training session, Pasuwa seemed to put emphasis on keeping the ball.
The four-time championship winning coach with Dynamos believes that enjoying lots of possession may enhance their chances of winning.
“In modern football if you keep the ball away from your opponents, you are likely to win the game. What I realised today was that the guys were failing to keep possession even for 20 seconds, which is bad. We need to work on that aspect of keeping the ball.
“We need to be very confident on the ball and I’ve been telling the players to enjoy the ball just like they are doing at their clubs. At national team level, we can’t be talking about ball control but tactics. We have to encourage them to attack, build confidence and score even from afar,” said Pasuwa.
The coach also took part in the session and showed some deft touches that he hoped would inspire his charges.
On a positive note, striker Rodrick Mutuma, who limped off during Tuesday morning’s training session, appeared to have shrugged of the injury as he participated in all drills with ease yesterday.
Warriors Chan squad in camp
Goalkeepers: Elvis Chipezeze (Chicken Inn), Takabva Mawaya (Hwange), Donovan Bernard (How Mine)
Defenders: Blessing Moyo (Dynamos), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders), Ocean Mushure, (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Highlanders), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Stephen Makatuka (Caps United)
Midfielders: Tichaona Chipunza (Triangle), Danny Phiri, Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Raphael Manuvire (ZPC Kariba), Malvern Gaki (Triangle) , Marshal Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Nqobizitha Masuku (Highlanders)
Strikers: Pritchard Mpelele (Hwange), Brian Muzondiwa (FC Platinum), Edmore Chirambadare (Chicken Inn), Roderick Mutuma (Dynamos), Knox Mutizwa (Highlanders)