The warriors technical team has named 25 players which comprises of local and foreign based players who are going to South Africa on 5 July for the COSAFA Cup tournament with camping expected to start tomorrow.
The announcement came after warriors team manager, Wellington Mpandare had said a squad of 25 players will be announced this morning and a squad of 20 players is heading off to South Africa on 5 July, which means from those announced today, five will be dropped.
Some of the foreign based players who are in Logarusic’s squad are United States of America based midfielder Nyasha Dube, the 23-year-old son of Hwange legend, Nation Dube. The versatile Dube plays for Little Rock Rangers, a team that plays in the USL Two.
More so goalkeeper Washington Arubi who plays for Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in South Africa’s DStv Premiership is another player who was named in the squad. The 35-year played an instrumental role in TTM winning the Nedbank Cup when they defeated Chippa United in the final, which saw them qualify for next season’s Caf Confederation Cup. He kept four clean sheets out of the five matches they played. Arubi went on to win the Nedbank Cup Player of the Tournament, which saw him pocket R150 000.
Lamontville Golden Arrows striker Knox Mutizwa and club-less Evans Rusike are the other foreign based players who are in the Warriors squad. The two got limited opportunities during the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and Logarusic should be eager to add to his options upfront ahead of the start of the 2022 World Cup qualification process in September.
Zimbabwe, the most successful team in the Cosafa having won the regional competition six times since it started in 1997 go up against the Mambas of Mozambique in their opening match on July 8. The Warriors face Namibia at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on 11 July before they clash with West African guest nation Senegal three days later.
The winner of Group A, which includes, South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and Eswatini, will take on the best runner-up in the semis, with the victors in Groups B (Zambia, Malawi, Comoros, Madagascar) up against the winners of Group C (Senegal, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique).
Losing semifinalists will be involved in the bronze-medal match on July 18, with the final to be staged later in the day. Both matches are at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, a 2010 Fifa World Cup venue.
Here is the full list of the nominated squad.
GOALKEEPERS
1 Washington Arubi {Marumo Gallants} 2. Nelson Chadya {Ngezi Platinum Stars} 3. Martin Mapisa {Zamora CF}
DEFENDERS
4.MacClive Phiri {Sekhukhune United} 5. Kelvin Moyo {Nkana} 6. Carlos Mavhurume {Caps United} 7. Andrew Mbeba {Highlanders} 8. Lennox Muchero {Yadah Stars} 9. Godknows Murwira {Dynamoes} 10. Qadr Amini {Ngezi Platinum Stars} 11. Malvin Mkolo {Bulawayo chiefs} 12. Jimmy Dzingai {Nkana}
MIDFIELDERS
13. Blessing Sarupinda { Caps United} 14. Perfect Chikwende {Simba FC} 15. Tatenda Tavengwa {Harare City} 16. Shadreck Nyahwa {Dynamos} 17. Brian Banda {FC Platinum} 18. King Nadolo {Dynamos} 19. Nyasha Dube {Little Rock Rangers} 20.Jonah Fabisch {Hamburger SV} 21 Ovidy Karuru {Black Leopards} 22. Richard Hachiro {Caps United}
STRIKERS
23. Farau Matare {Bulawayo Chiefs} 24. Knox Mutizwa {Lamontville Golden Arrows} 25. Evans Rusike
