Story by Lawrence Trusida, Sports Editor
Football stakeholders have expressed mixed feelings over the Warriors squad selected by the recently appointed national team coach ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers slated for Uganda next week.
Warriors coach, Micheal Nees named a 23-man squad this Monday, and there were not too many surprises.
Nees seemed to have gone for continuity as there is no news except for the return of 38-year-old goalkeeper Washington Arubi and striker Prince Dube.
“All in all I think it’s a fair selection. Nees did not have much time to look at players so he has done just fine with basically the same squad that did duty against South Africa and Lesotho, I think it’s an oon-squad if we look at it from a perspective that he did not have time to assess players,” said sports analyst, Francis Nyamutsamba.
Others are, however, of the opinion that the Squad might have been selected on the new Warriors squad’s behalf.
“There aren’t too many problems in the team, it’s more like a safe team. If Ness selected the team then he didn’t want to upset the Applecut. However, the similarities point to the fact that he was given a squad to use all the same. He is the man in charge, and he will answer all the questions regarding performance,” noted another sports analyst, Malvern Moyo.
Sports commentator, Sibongumusa Dhlodhlo questioned the selection of players who have not been active, “It is an ok squad, but I would question the inclusion of defenders Teenage Hadebe and Andrew Mbeba, Hadebe has been inactive and currently club-ess while Mbeba has missed the last four matches at Highlanders and maybe also the other issue will be about the defence we don’t seem to have natural centre backs in the squad save for Garan’anga and Hadebe yes football has evolved but you always need those ones around.
The Warriors are expected to assemble on the 1st of September in Uganda where they will face Kenya on the 6th and Cameroon on the 10th.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Football Association and Betterbrands have signed anUS$80 000 partnership that will see the mining company supporting the Warriors for the duration of the 2025 AFCON qualifiers.
The sponsorship deal will see Betterbrands Gold becoming the official kit sponsor for the Warriors as well as providing top-of-the-range training, travel, leisure, and matchday apparel for the national team.
