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Zimbabwe/Guinea: Warriors Leave for Guinea
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
29 May 2008
Posted to the web 29 May 2008
Mtulisi Mafa
Harare
Zimbabwe Warriors flew out of the country yesterday to begin their 2010 World Cup qualifying marathon with a tough date against Group 2 seeds Guinea in Conakry on Sunday.
The Warriors left on a lunch-time flight to Johannesburg and will travel via Dakar, Senegal, from where they would connect to Conakry, arriving around mid-morning today.
The senior team was boosted by the arrival on Tuesday night of steely defender Zvenyika Makonese, who finally joined camp after he was reportedly sorting out contractual obligations with his South African Premiership side.
Makonese's arrival meant that there would be no last-minute changes to the 18-man squad that coach Valinhos had earlier picked although Highlanders skipper Gilbert Banda had been placed on standby.
Also flying out of the country yesterday were Harare Giants Dynamos, who left for the Democratic Republic of Congo for two international friendlies against TP Mazembe in Lumbumbashi.
The matches are scheduled for tomorrow and Sunday.
Dynamos departed in the morning with a 17-member side which will be missing regulars -- captain Murape Murape, defenders Lovemore Maphuya and Sam Mutenheri.
Murape and Maphuya are understood to have remained behind to attend to family commitments while Mutenheri left with the Warriors for Guinea.
Veteran midfielder Lazarus Muhoni was not part of the delegation that left yesterday but he is expected to join his teammates in the DRC tomorrow.
Muhoni is expected to follow together with some members of the DeMbare executive tomorrow afternoon.
Dynamos secretary-general Tawanda Murerekwa said yesterday they had brought forward by a day their departure after being advised of the flight schedule to the DRC.
"The team left this afternoon. We were told that there is no flight to the DRC on Thursday and since our first match is on Friday (today), we decided that the team flies today.
"It will also give them a chance to prepare well and acclimatise. We have a strong squad, we want them to prepare well for the mini-league and we are fortunate to have such a high-profile match," Murerekwa said.
DeMbare welcomed back the injured duo of in-form midfielder Desmond Maringwa and Wonder Sithole while forgotten striker Norman Maroto made the trip in a rare appearance.
Dynamos, who were scheduled to play Underhill at the weekend, have had their match postponed and will face Monomotapa on Thursday next week.
But with the bulk of the Warriors side that left for Guinea comprised of foreign-based professionals, the PSL have arranged matches for the weekend.
CAPS United will begin life under yet another coach, Jostein Mathuthu, who quit Motor Action to join the troubled club.
CAPS United are at home to Kiglon this Sunday and are looking to end their five-match losing streak that led to Luke Masomere's exit.
But Mathuthu will have to be strong because at CAPS United, everyone is right except the coach. The fans are never wrong, the players are never wrong and so are the club chiefs.
Highlanders are back at Barbourfields after they embarrassed themselves by walking off against Gunners at Gwanzura last weekend soon after conceding a late goal.
There was no offside to talk about and television replays showed there was nothing to justify Bosso's actions.
Bosso play a resurgent Monomotapa as they try to avoid losing much ground on the leading pack.
Gunners have a cagey assignment away to Masvingo at Mucheke on Sunday but the programme begins with a Harare derby clash between CAPS FC and Motor Action at Dzivaresekwa.
Dynamos team that travelled to the DRC:
W Manyatera; T Dube; T Sweswe; W Mapfumo; J Majabvi; W Sithole; D Maringwa; B Tuwaya; E Sadomba; A Dzukamanja; D Shoko; N Maroto; S Mutizirwa; M Moyo; D Phiri; L Tsipa; R Mhlanga;
Premiership Fixtures :
Saturday: CAPS FC v Motor Action (Dzivaresekwa).
Sunday: Masvingo United v Gunners (Mucheke); Highlanders v Monomotapa (Barbourfields); Chapungu v Lengthens (Ascot); CAPS United v Kiglon (Gwanzura); Lancashire Steel v Sundowns (Baghdad).
Wednesday: Shooting Stars v Eastern Lions (Gwanzura).
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Thursday: Dynamos v Monomotapa (Gwanzura).
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