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Warriors ready for Lone Stars

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By Sheldon Hakata

THE country’s Senior National Soccer team, the Warriors, hope to kick-start their campaign for the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) on a positive note when they take on Liberia’s Lone Stars at the National Sports Stadium (NSS) on Sunday.
The Warriors are in Group G which has tricky customers like Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Congo.
The two teams have only met twice in soccer history, with their last match being in 2011 at the NSS.
Prior to that match, they had also had an encounter in Monrovia on September 5 2010 which ended in a one-all stalemate.
This was followed by a comprehensive 3-0 Warriors’ win at the National Sports Stadium on September 4 2011.
The Warriors squad returnee, Ovidy Karuru, scored a fine brace in the 15th and 44th minute, while star player and Mamelodi Sundowns striker Khama Billiat put the icing on the cake with a cool finish in the 84th minute.
On Sunday, the Warriors will start as firm favourites.
Despite collecting four points from their opponents, Zimbabwe will approach the match knowing nothing short of victory will put their campaign on a firm footing.
There are many changes to the team that took part in the 2017 AFCON tournament in Gabon.
Belgian-based forward and one of the few senior players left in the squad, Knowledge Musona, takes the armband from Willard Katsande who was left out in contentious circumstances.
The talismanic Musona will lead the latest campaign for another dance at the 2019 AFCON tournament.
He is deputised by Ngezi Platinum Stars defender Partson Jaure.
Interestingly, Musona was part of the team that interim Warriors gaffer Norman Mapeza created when he was first appointed coach in 2010.
Other members of the 2010 team include Karuru and Billiat who is nursing an injury, but is nevertheless in the squad.
Musona’s journey starts on Sunday where the Warriors will be hoping to utilise home advantage and collect maximum points against a team that on paper appears the weakest in the group.
Incidentally, his debut came against Liberia in the Monrovia tie where he scored.
Since then, he has gone on to become a key member of the national team, scoring crucial goals along the way.
The KV Oostende striker’s arrival has been a massive boost to the team’s aspirations.
The team also has Marvellous Nakamba who has had a good season where he helped his side Vitesse Arnhem of Netherlands to qualify for Europe’s second tier competition, the Europa Cup, which was won by English giants Manchester United.
Mapeza has been forced to drop the injured CAPS United duo of Edmore ‘Zikeeper’ Sibanda and steely defender Dennis Dauda from his provisional squad.
Polokwane City goal minder George Chigova and Dynamos defender Lincoln Zvasiya will replace the ‘Green Machine’ (CAPS United) players.
However, the coach chose the players he believes can deliver the goods hence the nation should rally behind the team as they start their qualifiers against Liberia.
Most of the players in the assembled squad have had great seasons with their clubs.
Mapeza and his assistant, Mandla Mpofu, named players plying their trade locally who include goalkeepers, Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders), Petros Mhari (FC Platinum); defenders Lincoln Zvasiya (Dynamos), Partson Jaure, Qadr Amini (Ngezi Platinum Stars), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Sydney Linyama and Jameson Mukombwe (Black Rhinos); midfielders Devon Chafa, Ronald Chitiyo (CAPS United), Simon Shoko (FC Platinum), Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum Stars) and strikers Prince Dube of Highlanders form the core of the national team complimented by foreign-based players.
Tanzania-based Thabani Kamusoko, South African-based duo of Karuru of Amazulu and Ajax Cape Town’s Eric Chipeta will put on the Warriors jersey again after the duo had been sidelined for quite some time from the previous senior national team setup.
The Warriors will have to negotiate a tricky passage to be at the 2019 AFCON finals in Cameroon where the hosts are guaranteed a place with only one team from each of the 12 earning a ticket to the continent’s biggest football showcase.
Meanwhile, Mapeza and his charges have said they are not worried about their opponents, who are bringing in 14 foreign-based players.
Mapeza also noted that his charges just need to keep on having the right attitude and mentality.
From the Liberian team that last played against Zimbabwe in 2011, only Antony Laffor is coming back to the NSS.

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