Story by Anashe Murombedzi, Sports Reporter
THE Zimbabwe senior national football team, the Warriors had their first training session in Malawi this Tuesday in preparation for the four-nations tournament featuring three other countries in Lilongwe.
As more players turn up for national duty at the four-nations tournament featuring hosts, Malawi, Zambia and Kenya, coach Norman Mapeza took his charges through their first training session at the Nankhaka police grounds in Lilongwe this Tuesday.
The training was attended by locally-based players and the first batch of foreign-based players who arrived in Lilongwe on Monday.
Teenage Hadebe, Gerald Takwara, Joey Phuthi, Peter Muduhwa, Emmanuel Jalai, Kelvin Moyo, Junior Makunike, Martin Mapisa, Donovan Bernard, Walter Musona and Daniel Msendami were part of the training session.
England-based players; McCauley Bonne, Tivonge Rushesha and Leicester City’s Tawanda Maswanhise joined the Warriors camp this afternoon, with more players still expected ahead of the tournament.
The four-nations tournament is part of the Warriors’ preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers set for June.
Meanwhile, the Malawi Four-Nations football tournament kicks off this Wednesday with the Zimbabwe Under-20 national side, the Young Warriors taking on the hosts in their first match.
The Under-20 tourney will be contested on a round-robin basis between Malawi, Kenya and Zimbabwe after Zambia pulled out.
The Young Warriors face Malawi this Wednesday before taking on Kenya on Friday.
Coach Simon Marange says his charges are ready for the tournament that will run concurrently with the senior team competition.
