Mutuma gets Warriors call

By Petros Kausiyo

The in-form Dynamos pair of striker Roderick Mutuma and left back Ocean Mushure have been rewarded for their consistent showing in the last few weeks with Warriors coach Callisto Pasuwa including them in his squad for the 2016 African Nations Championships final qualifier against Lesotho.

The Warriors will host the Likuena (Crocodiles) in the first leg at Barbourfields on October 18 with the reverse fixture set for Setsoto Stadium in Maseru the following weekend.

Although he has kept faith in the bulk of the national Under-23 players from which he is looking to build on his future Warriors, Pasuwa is also not taking chances in the final qualifier and has sought to blend in some of the experienced players who are currently enjoying fine form in the Premiership.

The four-time championship wining coach has always argued that “there are no longer any small teams in Africa and we have to adequately prepare for each game’’.

Lesotho are also looking at upsetting the apple-cart and wreck the Warriors record by bursting into their first ever CHAN finals.

But Pasuwa is hopeful the homegrown talent he has at his disposal will retain the standards set by their predecessors, especially against the background that the CHAN tournament also provides the platform for many local players to get professional contracts.

Mutuma has suddenly found his range again and has been playing an influential role in the Dynamos attack as the champions look to secure a fifth straight Premiership title.

Pasuwa also believes his height and robust play could come in handy in the Warriors attack against the Crocodiles

Mushure might not be providing the goals for Dynamos but as a roving left-back, he has been providing the champions with width on the flanks

Pasuwa’s decision to reward consistency with a Warriors call-up has not only been restricted to Mutuma and Mushure.

That reward of fine form has also resulted in Highlanders defender Bruce Kangwa winning a recall to the Warriors while FC Platinum striker Brian Muzondiwa’s goal scoring exploits that have catapulted the miners into second place on the log standings have also been recognised.

Pasuwa also took into account reports from his assistant Nation Dube that midfielder Tichaona Chipunza had outstanding performances for the national Under-23 side during the African Games in Congo Brazzaville last month.

Premiership leaders Chicken Inn, who have been a consistent force, provide the bulk of the players to the squad which the top-flight body’s chief executive Kenny Ndebele has dubbed “the PSL Warriors’’ and offered the league’s support for the senior team’s quest to reach the CHAN finals in Rwanda in January next year.

This is because the CHAN tournament is strictly for those players who play in their national leagues and Ndebele believes their strength gives a reflection of the quality of the domestic Premiership.

Pasuwa wants to become the fourth Warriors coach to guide Zimbabwe to the CHAN tournament.

Warriors’ history-making coach Sunday Chidzambwa broke the ice when he led Zimbabwe to the inaugural tournament in 2009 in Cote d’Ivoire while Madinda Ndlovu was in charge for the Sudan edition two years later.

In both instances the Warriors could not proceed beyond the group stages but Ian Gorowa took them a step further when he guided them to a fourth place finish at the 2014 competition in Cape Town, South Africa.

Now Pasuwa wants to join that elite club by guiding the Warriors to the Rwanda edition next year and the former Dynamos coach needs to clear the tricky hurdle posed by Lesotho in the back to back fixtures this month in order to earn his CHAN stripes.

Pasuwa has also retained skipper Danny Phiri, who together with CAPS United right back Hardlife Zvirekwi, are the only players in the squad who have previously been to a CHAN championships.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Elvis Chipezeze (Chicken Inn), Takabva Mawaya (Hwange), Donovan Bernard (How Mine)

Defenders: Blessing Moyo (Dynamos), Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders), Ocean Mushure, (Dynamos) Teenage Hadebe (Highlanders), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Justice Jangano (CAPS United)

Midfielders: Ticahona Chipunza, Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Ronald Chitiyo (Dynamos) , Raphael Manuvire (ZPC Kariba), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Malvern Gaki (Triangle) , Marshal Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Talent Chawapihwa (Harare City) Nqobizitha Masuku (Highlanders),

Strikers: Pritchard Mpelele (Hwange), Brian Muzondiwa (FC Platinum), Edmore Chirambadare (Chicken Inn), Roderick Mutuma. The Herald