PREMIERSHIP leading scorer Tendai Ndoro’s exploits in the domestic league have earned him the first national team call after he was included in the 20-member Warriors’ squad for the Cosafa Cup in Zambia next month. The Chicken Inn striker is one of the few new players in a largely familiar squad, comprising home-based players, announced by the Warriors technical team yesterday. Industrious Black Rhinos forward Lot Chiwunga is also another newcomer to the set-up under German coach Klaus-Dieter Pagels while CAPS United goalkeeper Tafadzwa Dube, who has had a brilliant campaign this season, makes a return to the national team fold. Dube will fight for the first team jersey with Maxwell Nyamupangedengu of Harare City and the revitalised Highlanders goalkeeper Munyaradzi Diya. There were also places for regular campaigners this year like Masimba Mambare, Hardlife Zvirekwi, Devon Chafa, Ronald Chitiyo and Silas Songani. How Mine forward Simba Sithole was also given the thumbs up for his second dance with the national team after taking part in their last trip for the friendly match against Malawi as a late replacement for Ali Sadiki. Zimbabwe are record holders of the Cosafa Cup title after winning it four times and will be hoping to maintain their dominance at the regional tournament when they go out to defend the title. Despite his lack of experience at the big stage, Ndoro, who never represented Zimbabwe at any level, yesterday said he was excited by the prospect of donning the national team colours for the first time. The 25-year old has enjoyed good form this year and has scored nine goals in the Castle League Premiership race. He also helped Chicken Inn win the season- opening Charity Shield which featured four teams this year when he weighed in with a goal in the two matches they played. “This is the moment I have been waiting for in my career. It’s an honour to play for the national team and it’s great to see that your efforts are being recognised,” said Ndoro. “I believe I have been on top of my game this season compared to the previous years although I am not yet up there. “I know I still need to improve my game and I will use this opportunity to the best of my ability. “I would like to thank the national team coaches and it’s good that they are casting the nets wide. “For players like us to be noticed at a small club like Chicken Inn shows that the coaches are really following the game.” Team manager, Shariff Mussa, said selection was limited to a maximum of two players from each club so that the domestic Castle Lager Premiership programme will not be disturbed. As a result some of the players who could have made it into the team were left out following the agreement between the Premier Soccer League and Zifa. The players are expected to report at Zifa House on July 8 and then camp for two days before departing for Zambia on July 11. “We have called in 20 players for the Cosafa Cup and we were taking not more than two players from each club, according to the understanding between Zifa and PSL. “Obviously, selection was based on what the coaches wants to work with and they feel these are some of the best performing players in the league and they deserve a chance,” said Mussa. Pagels is currently away in German and is expected back in the country some time next week. Pagels, who has been mandated to spearhead the national team’s rebuilding exercise, has been working to give local players the platform to fight for their places in the national team. The Warriors will begin the defence of their title at the quarter-final stage against Malawi in Lusaka on July 13. This year’s tournament will feature 14 teams, including guests Equatorial Guinea and Kenya. Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Angola were the top seeded teams and were handed byes from the first round matches. Malawi and Mozambique were also handed byes following the withdrawal of Madagascar and the Comoros Island. Group A contains East African guests, Tanzania, Namibia, Mauritius and Seychelles while Group B features another guest nation from East Africa, Kenya, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. The teams will play each other in a round-robin format, with the top sides in each pool advancing to the quarter-finals. The remaining six top seeds enter the competition in the quarter-final stages. South Africa will take on the winners of Group A, while Angola await for the victors in Group B. The opening game of the tournament will be played in Lusaka on July 6 when Tanzania take on Mauritius. Warriors Squad GOALKEEPERS Maxwell Nyamupangedengu (Harare City) Munyaradzi Diya (Highlanders) Tafadzwa Dube (CAPS United) DEFENDERS Hardlife Zvirekwi (CAPS United) Felix Chindungwe (Chicken Inn) Ocean Mushure (Dynamos) Eric Chipeta (Hwange) Nicholas Guyo (Monomotapa) Prosper Matizanadzo (Buffaloes) MIDFIELDERS Masimba Mambare (Highlanders) Devon Chafa (Dynamos) Charles Sibanda (FC Platinum) Silas Songani (Harare City) Ronald Chitiyo (Monomotapa) Nicholas Alifandika (Black Mambas) STRIKERS Tendai Ndoro (Chicken Inn) Lot Chiwunga (Black Rhinos) Simba Sithole (How Mine) Last Chibwiro (Black Mambas) *gdn*
Posted on: Fri, 21 Jun 2013 05:16:45 +0000