The Sunday Mail
Langton Nyakwenda Sports Reporter
TINO Kadewere and his Olympic Lyon teammates have been talking a lot about Zimbabwe’s upcoming Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria, with most of them ruling out the Warriors’ chances against champions of the continent.
One of those teammates is Algerian defender Djamel Eddine Benlamri, whom Kadewere could line up with when Olympic Lyon host Saint-Etienne in a French Ligue 1 match tonight, before the duo crosses swords when the Desert Foxes host the Warriors at the Stade du 5 Juillet in Algiers on Thursday.
The 24-year-old Kadewere is excited about the prospect of squaring up against his club teammate on national duty and is eager to prove some of his teammates, who have been doubting the Warriors’ chances, wrong.
“It is always good getting to come up against your teammate,” Kadewere told The Sunday Mail Sport yesterday.
“Ever since, we have been talking about the game with my teammates and some are saying we (Zimbabwe) have no chance but we want to make a difference and do our very best in that game.
“The most important thing is to work hard for the country.”
He is expected in camp on Tuesday where he should be joined by Aston Villa midfielder Marvelous Nakamba, defender Teenage Hadebe (Yeni Malatyaspor) and Stade Reims’ Marshal Munetsi.
They are expected in a few hours before the team leaves for Algiers.
Big goalkeeper Talbert Shumba, who recently signed for Zambian side Nkana, is scheduled to fly in today along with Tafadzwa Rusike and Jimmy Dzingai.
The list of those expected in tomorrow is headlined by Belgian-based skipper Knowledge Musona.
It includes Khama Billiat, Terrence Dzvukamanja, Jimmy Dzingai, Jordan Zemura, Tendai Darikwa, Adam Chicksen, Tafadzwa Rusike, Kudakwashe Mahachi and Scotland based David Moyo.
The South African-based quartet of Elvis Chipezeze (Baroka), Butholezwe Ncube (AmaZulu), Devine Lunga (Golden Arrows) and the unattached Ovidy Karuru as well as on fire striker Prince Dube of Tanzanian outfit Azam arrived on Friday, to join Dynamos newboy King Nadolo, the only locally based player in the squad.
The United States based duo of keeper Tatenda Mkuruva and little known Tendai Jirira have literally been ruled out as they cannot make it because of stringent travel rules in that country.
“They were supposed to fly in tomorrow but they have not been cleared by authorities in America,” said Warriors manager Wellington Mpandare.
Meanwhile, Algeria are expected to begin camp tomorrow.
Coach Djamel Belmadi, whose contract was extended until the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, has selected an enlarged squad of 50 players, from which he will draw the 23 for camp.
Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, the Nice duo of Youcef Atal and Hichem Boudaoui as well as Cagliari winger Adam Ounas are also part of the squad.
