HARARE - Zimbabwe football coach Rahman Gumbo yesterday named a largely unchanged provisional 24-man squad for next month’s 2013 African Nations Cup final qualifier against Angola.
The Warriors take on the Palancas Negras on the weekend of October 12-14 in Luanda carrying a 3-1 lead from the first leg played at Rufaro Stadium earlier this month.
As expected, there was no room for goalkeeper and captain Tapuwa Kapini, who has been ruled out after undergoing an ankle surgery in South Africa two weeks ago.
The inspirational skipper first damaged his ankle in training with his South African club AmaZulu last month before aggravating the injury in the first leg against the Angolans.
Gumbo was also robbed of the services of Hwange striker Rodwell Chinyengetere, who sustained a double fracture on his right leg during a Castle Premiership match against Monomotapa at the weekend.
Chinyengetere, who had become an integral part of Gumbo’s team, was the only locally-based player in the Warriors’ starting-up against Angola in the first leg.
The Chipangano captain, who was operated on the injury on Sunday at Avenues Clinic, will be out of action for the next eight weeks.
The only two names featuring on the roster that were not on the first leg list are Highlanders midfielder Masimba Mambare and goalkeeper Maxwell Nyamupanedengu of Harare City.
Bidvest Wits midfielder Tinashe Nengomasha and Germany-based Knowledge Musona, who failed to turn up for the first leg after Zifa failed to send them call-up letters on time, have been included in the team.
The rest of the team has remained unchanged from the first leg.
“We are expecting all the players to have reported for camp by October 8 and we have put in some strong measures to make sure that their clubs are notified in time for their call-ups,” said Warriors team manager Nyika Chifamba.
On the absence of Kapini and Chinyengetere he added: “Those two will be greatly missed and we wish them a speedy recovery. In terms of experience and leadership qualities, we have lost a very important player in Kapini. As for Roddy, he had become an important member of the team and had featured in the starting line up in our last two games.”
Zimbabwe is just 90 minutes away from qualifying for their third Afcon finals in South Africa next January.
In the first leg earlier this month, Zimbabwe scored through Khama Billiat, Archieford Gutu and an own goal from Angolan forward Mateus.
The Palancas Negras pulled one goal back through second half substitute Djalma to give them hope going into next month’s second leg.
The Warriors last qualified for Africa’s premier football showcase back in 2006 under Charles Mhlauri.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Ariel Sibanda, George Chigova, Marlon Jani, Maxwell Nyamupanedengu.
Defenders: Noel Kaseke, Partson Jaure, Vusa Nyoni, Innocent Mapuranga, Onismor Bhasera, Carlington Nyadombo, Arnold Chaka, Esrom Nyandoro.
Midfielders: Achieford Gutu, Denver Mukamba, Oscar Machapa, Tinashe Nengomasha, Prosper Matizanadzo, Quincy Antipas, Masimba Mambare.
Strikers: Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Takesure Chinyama, Donald Ngoma, Abbas Amidu.Gumbo picks his men