Callisto Pasuwa
Ricky Zililo Senior Sports Reporter—
WARRIORS’ coach Callisto Pasuwa intends to hold at least two training sessions at the Kumalo Hockey Stadium before their departure for Sunday’s second leg of the 2016 African Nations Championship (Chan) final qualifier against Lesotho in Maseru. Zimbabwe carry a 3-1 lead, and with news that they will play on astro turf, Pasuwa wants to have two sessions at the hockey ground, which is the only facility in Bulawayo with artificial turf.
The Warriors leave for Maseru on Friday, meaning they can only train once at the match venue on Saturday. Pasuwa said he wants to see how his players adapt to the hard artificial turf before deciding on who to pick for the return leg. He revealed that his players took an ice bath yesterday morning to relieve muscle pain.
“There are about seven players with ankle knocks and to try and speed up their recovery process, they took an ice bath this morning,” said Pasuwa. “The doctors will continue monitoring the progress of players with knocks, but Tafadzwa Kutinyu has been ruled out because of a cracked ankle. We have replaced Kutinyu with Hardlife Zvirekwi.
“With most guys having knocks, my wish is to have two training sessions on an artificial turf and we hope Zifa manages to secure Kumalo Hockey Stadium so that we assess players’ quick step and agility before leaving,” he said.
Some of the players with ankle knocks picked up in the first leg at Barbourfields Stadium last Sunday are left-back Ocean Mushure, right-back Blessing Moyo, central defender Teenage Hadebe, who also has a nagging knee, striker Rodrick Mutuma and winger Marshal Mudehwe.
Mutuma scored a brace in the first leg with skipper Danny “Deco” Phiri getting the other goal. It will be tragic for the Warriors to lose Mutuma, but in the event that the striker is ruled out, Pasuwa will have to choose between the league’s joint top goal scorer Edmore Chirambadare of Chicken Inn and Hwange’s Pritchard Mphelele.
The Warriors’ coach, who maintained his initial squad, also said he had no intentions of bringing in new players and will replace the injured ones with squad members that were not involved in the game against Lesotho.
“We had 22 players that we were training with and dropped four for the game. There are also some who were on the bench and it is these players that were either on the bench or on standby that we will use in the event we need replacements. This is because we don’t want to make many changes as some players might need more time to understand the philosophy we’re using, and time is something that we don’t have,” said Pasuwa.
Meanwhile, Zifa spokesman Xolisani Gwesela said they were making frantic efforts to pay the players their outstanding allowances before they leave for Lesotho. “These Warriors did a great job and we are working round the clock to ensure we pay them their dues before they leave, because everyone is looking forward to a win. However, we are still in financial quagmire and will appreciate it if the corporate world and well-wishers chip in,” said Gwesela.
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, Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), 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), Rodrick Mutuma (Dynamos), Knox Mutizwa (Highlanders)