29 November 2008
ZIMBABWE'S locally based footballers face their South African counterparts this afternoon, in an African Nations Championship qualifier at the Atteridgeville Super Stadium, in Tshwane.
The southern African rivals meet in the first leg of the final round qualifier of the newly launched competition, which is open only to those playing in the domestic leagues of their respective countries.
South Africa has already announced that players taking part in the competition cannot earn full Bafana Bafana caps, with their football federation also saying the national team strip would not be worn in this second-rate competition.
And unlike Zimbabwe, South Africa are hoping to widen their selection base ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup and next year's Confederations Cup, while the CHAN tournament comes as a bitter reminder of the Warriors' failure in the more glamorous global showpiece.
The Zimbabweans are surprisingly very excited about taking part in the tournament and have plucked respected Sunday Chidzambwa out of retirement to lead the team, after sidelining Brazilian coach Valinhos last week.
South Africa, on the other hand, will have under-20 coach Serame Letsoaka, who has led the Amajita to the 2009 African Youth Championship in Rwanda, at the helm in today's match.
Zimbabwe beat Namibia to advance to this stage of the competition, but South Africa enter the tournament for the first time after receiving a bye in the first round, with their next opponents, Mauritius, opting-out before kicking a ball.
Warriors' assistant coach Joey Antipas told Standardsport the players were raring to go, adding today's match is set to bring out the best in Zimbabwean football.
"So far so good...the players have been responding quite well, and come Sunday, we should be seeing a good display of Zimbabwean football," Antipas said.
Chidzambwa has named a decent outfit for today's tie, with Letsoaka also announcing a strong side led by Sundowns midfielder Benedict Vilakazi.
The second leg matches will take place on the weekend of December 12-14, with the winners joining either Zambia or Angola as two of southern Africa's representatives at the eight-team final in Cote d'Ivoire, from February 22 to March 8, 2009.
Zimbabwe squad
W. Arubi, W, Manyatera, E. Sibanda, Z. Ngodzo, O. Machapa, D. Kutyauripo, Z. Jambo, T. Sweswe, G. Zhuwakinyu, J. Majabvi, E. Meleka, P. Tafirenyika, C. Chiutsa, D. Zokoto, C. Matawu, E. Sadomba, O. Karuru, M. Mwanjali, E. Chikwaikwai, P. Marufu, T. Nyamadzawo, T. Nyamandwe, G. Banda.
South Africa squad
Benedict Vilakazi, Vuyo Mere, Derrick Spencer, Kurt Lentjies (all Sundowns), Peter Petersen (Maritzburg United), Eleazar Rodgers (Santos), Sifiso Myeni (Bidvest Wits), Michael Nkambule (Kaizer Chiefs), David Radebe (Moroka Swallows), Simba Marumo (Platinum Stars), Arthur Bartman (Bay United.)
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