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Zimbabwe/Botswana: Benjani Jets in for Botswana Tie
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
25 March 2008
Posted to the web 25 March 2008
Augustine Hwata
Harare
Warriors captain Benjani Mwaruwari yesterday led the foreign-based Zimbabwe internationals who trooped into camp ahead of the friendly match against Botswana in Gaborone tomorrow.
The Manchester City striker immediately joined the rest of the players for a training session at Gwanzura in the afternoon. This was Mwaruwari's first work-out under Brazilian coach Valinhos, who received help from David Mandigora, Brenna Msiska and Norman Mapeza.
Valinhos was also breaking new ground yesterday when he got the chance to assess the South African-based duo of Zvenyika Makonese and Esrom Nyandoro for the first time. Santos defender Makonese and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Nyandoro joined camp for the Fifa-sanctioned international friendly in Gaborone tomorrow evening.
The faces of Gilbert Mushangazhike and Obert Moyo were, however, not new to Valinhos as he had a chance to look at the players during the hastily-arranged friendly tie against South Africa at Germiston earlier this month. Zimbabwe lost the game 2-1 and Orlando Pirates striker Mushangazhike captained the side which featured Pretoria University defender Moyo in the heart of defence.
Two more foreign-based players in Vusa Nyoni and Honour Gombami were expected to arrive in Harare last night from their base in Belgium where they turn out for Jupiler League side Cercle Brugge. Warriors team manager, Ernest Sibanda, said Nyoni and Gombami had indicated that they were on their way to Harare.
"So far we have some foreign-based players who have joined in and Vusa and Honour are coming this evening," said Sibanda. Sibanda has ruled out the Kaizer Chiefs pair of Onismor Bhasera and Tinashe Nengomasha from the game against the Zebras tomorrow.
"Tinashe and Bhasera are both injured and could not make it," he said. Also out of the tie is Cyprus-based defender Noel Kaseske, who is injured, as well as Cephas Chimedza, who plays in Belgium. There was still uncertainty over the availability of France-based utility player Harlington Shereni and Tapuwa Kapini, two of the foreign-based players Valinhos had called for this particular camp.
Although Valinhos might be worried over the unavailability of some players he had wanted to assesses, the coming in of the quintet of Mwaruwari, Makonese, Nyandoro, Mushangazhike and Moyo was a step in the right direction towards the Brazilian's goal of assembling a team for the 2010 World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers.
The locally-based bunch of players were punctual for camp with Energy Murambadoro and Washington Arubi being the options available for the number one jersey during training yesterday. Method Mwanjali, Gilbert Banda, Zephania Ngodzo, Zhaimu Jambo, Edward Sadomba, Justice Majabvi and Mthsumayeli Moyo were also in attendance at yesterday's training session at Gwanzura. Even foes David Kutyauripo and Leonard Tsipa have made up for their disgraceful act during the CAPS United/Dynamos league match two weeks ago and were comrades in arms at the same training session.
Warriors manager Sibanda said the team for tomorrow's match will be finalised shortly before their departure for Gaborone today. Another training session has been arranged at Gwanzura ahead of their departure. "Tomorrow (today) we are going to have a training session around eight in the morning and then depart for the airport where we will fly straight to Gaborone around 1pm.
"There is going to be another training session in Gaborone in the evening and another one on Wednesday before the game. "The match is set for 7pm and we should be returning immediately after the game," said Sibanda. The foreign-based players are scheduled to leave Harare early on Thursday morning for their respective bases. Zimbabwe last played Botswana in April 2005 at the Cosafa Castle Cup tournament in Namibia where the Warriors won 2-0. On March 16, 2005, the Warriors and the Zebras drew 1-1 in a friendly at Rufaro while Zimbabwe had won the other previous two meetings 2-0 at Rufaro and Gaborone respectively. But Botswana have made tremendous progress in terms of developing their football since then while the Warriors went on a slide. With more than half a dozen Zimbabwean coaches and scores of local players playing in the country's Mascom Premiership League, Botswana could be worthy opponents for Zimbabwe tomorrow.
Botswana's Briton coach Colywn Rowe is also planning another game against a Brazilian select side in April as they seek to fine-tune their preparations for the World Cup and Nations Cup qualifiers.
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The game against the Brazilians had been switched from tomorrow to accommodate the tie against the Warriors.
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