By Dickson Bandera
Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) has announced the Senior Men’s soccer team scheduled to play Lesotho and South Africa in the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers on 7 June and 11 June 2024 respectively.
The team is a blend of new and seasoned players plying their trades in different parts of the world.
A total of of seven local players made it to the list and these are goalkeepers Donovan Bernard, Martin Mapisa and Godfrey Chitsumba, Simba Bhora’s duo Walter Musona and Tymon Machope, Highlandere Andrew Mbeba and Godknows Murirwa from Caps United.
Players receiving their first call up are Manica Diamonds’ Geoffrey Chitsumba, Simba Bhora’s Tymon Machope and Douglas Mapfumo from Polokwane City.
Newly appointed coach, Jairosi Tapera will lead the Warriors, assisted by Takesure Chiragwi and Saul Chaminuka while Sunday Chidzambwa is the Technical Director.
The Lesotho match will be played in South Africa due to unavailability of FIFA approved stadiums in Zimbabwe while for the match against South Africa, Zimbabwe will be away.
Zimbabwe is in Group C that features Nigeria, South Africa, Lesotho, Rwanda and Benin.
The selected players are as follows:
GOALKEEPERS
Bernard Donovan (Chicken Inn)
Martin Mapisa (Dynamos FC)
Godfrey Chitsumba (Manica Diamonds)
DEFENDERS
Gerald Takwara (Ohod FC)
Teenage Hadebe (Konyaspor)
Brendan Galloway
(Plymouth Argyle)
Munashe Garananga (KV Mecheleen)
Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders)
Godknows Murwira (Caps United)
Shane Maroodza (Huddersfield)
Devine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns)
MIDFIELDERS
Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims)
Andy Rinomhota (Rotherham United)
Jordan Zemura (Udinese)
Walter Musona (Simba Bhora)
Daniel Msendami (Jwaneng Galaxy)
Tivonge Rushesha (Reading)
Joey Phuthi (Sheffield Wednesday)
Tawanda Maswanhise (Leicester City)
FORWARDS
Tinotenda Kadewere (FC Nantes)
Tawanda Chirewa (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City) Tymon Machope (Simba Bhora)
