The Sunday Mail
SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT . . . The Zimbabwe Sables gear up for the Africa Cup opener against a vengeful Kenya on Saturday — Picture: Edmore Muzerengi
SABLES coach Cyprian “Supa” Mandenge has warned against complacency among the new faces in the team.
He says only those that prove their worth will play when Zimbabwe meets Kenya in the opener of the CAR Africa Cup on Saturday.
Mandenge has called up some new faces to cover the gap created by the non-availability of several senior players.
Among those ruled out are Shayne Makombe, Hilton Mudariki, Matthew Mandioma, Lambert Groenwald, Norman Mukondiwa, Kelvin Nqindi, Pete Joubert, Keith Murray, Michael Passaportis, Guy Cronje and Njabulo Ndlovu.
And in are Kudzai Muzorerwa, Teddy “Boxer ”Hwata, David Makanda, Malvern Maparurwa, Andrea Banda, Tadiwa Parirenyatwa, Mclean Muhambi and Andrew Rose.
Mandenge said: “What you need to understand is that my main aim here is to win and I have to make sure that I achieve that goal using the resources available. It is important that we kick-off our Africa Cup campaign on the right note. This tournament will have a huge impact on our dreams of a 2019 World Cup berth; so, there is little room error.
“The obvious temptation now is to give the youngsters a run just for the sake of it, but I will not do that. I will only use the most deserving players. Those that put their hands up in training and prove their worth will play.”
Mandenge expressed satisfaction with progress in the squad, which had been meeting twice a week before going into camp yesterday.
Still smarting from their 10-27 loss to the Sables early this year, the Kenyans have been very vocal in the build-up to this tie.
“The hunger that we have tells it all, we are in contention for Africa Cup because we want to reclaim what was ours. Sometimes in life when you are beaten, you pick up the pieces and move on; you don’t just sit and say you have been defeated. We are fighting back to make sure we get where we were before,” Kenya’s team manager Wangila Simiyu was quoted as saying last week.
Zimbabwe squad:
Denford Mutamangira, Tatenda Murwira, Farai Mudariki, Clemenson Lawrence, Royal Mwale, Kudazai Muzorerwa, Jan Ferreira, Martin Wolfenden, Sunile Sibanda, Biselele Tshamala, Andrew Rose, Fortune Chipendo, Kingsley Lang, Shingai Mpofu, Charles Jiji, Teddy Hwata, Tich Makwanya, Lenience Tambwera, Boyd Rouse, Riaan Oneil, Steven Hunduza, Gradner Nechironga, Tafadzwa Chitokwindo, Tangai Nemadire, Tadiwa Parirenyatwa, Lungile Tshuma, Malvern Maparura, Cleopas Makotose, Daniel Capsopolous, Kuda Chiwanza, Mclean Muhambi, Andrea Banda, Kelvin Magunje.
