Musona, Billiat want Cosafa run

WARRIORS’ skipper Knowledge Musona is expected to join the Warriors camp on Tuesday alongside Khama Billiat and Czech Republic based defender Costa Nhamoinesu as Zimbabwe crank up preparations for the 18th edition of the Cosafa Cup.

Musona is fresh from sealing a four-year deal with Belgium giants Anderlecht and has indicated that he will play for the Warriors at the Cosafa tournament which runs between May 27 and June 9.

Polokwane keeper George Chigova arrived last Friday night to join the South African based quintet of Ovidy Karuru, Talent Chawapiwa, Evans Rusike, Marshal Munetsi and Edmore “ZiKeeper” Sibanda who had already checked in at Walter Magaya’s Yadah Complex.

Wales based centre back Alec Mudimu and former Caps United striker Abbas Amidu, whose stint with Egyptian side Entag El-Harby ended early this month, are also among the foreign based players already in the country.

Zimbabwe national team coach Sunday “Mhofu” Chidzambwa has called in a powerful squad as he intends to use the Cosafa Cup stage to experiment his strategies ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo in Brazzaville on September 7.

“George (Chigova) arrived Friday night and we are now expecting Musona and Billiat on Tuesday. Swedish based Tino Kadewere and Costa (Nhamoinesu) will also join camp on Tuesday,” said Warriors team manager Wellington Mpandare.

The Warriors will leave for South Africa on Thursday before playing in the quarter finals on June 3.

Zimbabwe won their fifth and record breaking Cosafa Cup title last year and received a bye into the last eight for this year’s edition.

They will face winners from Group B which has former champions Angola, Botswana, Malawi and Mauritius

“We are also expecting the Tanzanian based Tafadzwa Kutinyu to join the team in South Africa on June 3 as he has a cup final. Serious training will start on Monday (tomorrow) as we have released some of the local based players to their teams,” added Mpandare.

Some of the local based players who were at Yadah Complex last Thursday include Harare City right back Takudzwa Chimwemwe and the Ngezi Platinum Stars trio of Liberty Chakoroma, Terrence Dzukamanja and goalie Donovan Bernard.

The Warriors held a light training session yesterday under the watchful eyes of Chidzambwa and his assistant Lloyd Mutasa as well as goalkeepers coach Brenna Msiska.