HARARE – Zimbabwe senior football team gaffer Zdravko Logarusic has finally announced a provisional squad of 38 players for the penultimate AFCON qualifiers against Botswana and Zambia in March.
The Croat explained the reasons for picking an unusually huge pool being largely due to doubts over the availability of some players due to injury and COVID-19 regulations in different parts of the globe especially the United Kingdom.
There are doubts over the availability of players like Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, Tendai Darikwa, Jordan Zemura and other player in Spain due to changes in COVID-19 regulations.
The coach also confirmed the fear that key players like Knowledge Musona, Khama Billiat and Marshall Munetsi will likely miss the two decisive encounters as they battle to recover from long term injuries.
“We have problems with some injured regular players whom we used in our games against Algeria, especially Khama [Billiat], [Marshall] Munetsi and [Knowledge] Musona.
“We have more than 10 players whose availability is in doubt. We have to call up more players in case some test positive for COVID-19 in camp.
“We will select a team for the game against Botswana leaving some players in the country in case we lose some players before the game against Zambia,” said Logarusic.
Logarusic made some minor changes to a squad that was initially leaked earlier this week due to some players being either unavailable or unwilling to commit their future to Zimbabwe.
“Usually, our list of players should be made up of 28 players, that is 3 goalkeepers and 25 infield players. We made it much bigger because we are facing a few [potential] problems,” said Logarusic.
“We don’t know what [the situation] will be in England, Spain and USA because some clubs have declined to release players because of the COVID-19 policies there,” the coach lamented.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Talbert Shumba (Nkana) Tatenda Mkuruva (Michigan Stars) Ariel Sibanda (Highlanders) Martin Mapisa (Zamora CF)
Defenders
Jordan Zemura (AFC Bournemouth) Jimmy Dzingai (Nkana) Alec Mudimu (Ankaraspor) Teenage Hadebe (Yeni Malatyaspor) Divine Lunga (Lamontville Golden Arrows) Tendai Jirira (Detroit City) Tendayi Darikwa (Wigan Athletic) Brendan Galloway (Luton Town) Victor Kamhuka (Royal Malaysia Police) Romario Matova (NK Solin) Peter Muduwa (Simba SC) Carlos Mavhurume (Caps United) Shadreck Nyahwa (Bulawayo Chiefs)
Midfielders
Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims) Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa) Butholezwe Ncube (Amazulu) Ovidy Karuru (Black Leopards) Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs) Tafadzwa Rusike (Zesco United) Brian Banda (FC Platinum) King Nadolo (Dynamos) Kudakwashe Mahachi (SuperSport United) Thabani Kamusoko (Zesco United) Knowledge Musona (KAS Eupen) Tatenda Tavengwa (Harare City) Tanaka Chinyahara (Red Arrows)
Strikers
Terrence Dzvukamanja (Orlando Pirates) Tinotenda Kadewere (Olympique Lyonnais) David Moyo (Hamilton Academical) Admiral Muskwe (Wycombe Wanderers) Farau Matare (Bulawayo Chiefs) Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows) Evans Rusike (SuperSport United) Prince Dube (Azam)
![FILE: Tawanda Maswanhise celebrates after scoring for Motherwell FC in the Scottish Premiership match against Rangers FC on Sunday 29th December 2024. [Picture by: Raymond Davies Photography]](https://rosgwen24.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/image-5-768x768.jpeg "Maswanhise comes to the party, ref spoils the battle 3")
