Wolverhampton Wanderers starlet Tawanda Chirewa has been named in the Zimbabwe national team to face Lesotho and South Africa in next week’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
The attacking midfielder received a Warriors’ call up back in March ahead of the Four Nations Tournament in Malawi but requested to be excused to focus on his club after breaking into the first team at his club.
And the new interim technical team led by Manica Diamonds coach Jairos Tapera has decided to include the 20-year-old who made eight appearances for Wolves in the English Premier League this season in the strong 23–member squad which reports for camp in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Other new faces in the squad include Manica Diamonds goalkeeper Godfrey Chitsumba whose side had kept nine clean sheets in 14 matches this season.
Simba Bhora Striker Taimon Machope is another surprise inclusion as he takes his place among the four forwardd named in the squad.
Goalkeeper Martin Mapisa (Dynamos), Godknows Murwira (CAPS United), Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders), and Walter Musona (Simba Bhora) complete the list of locally based players in the team.
Luton Town’s Marvelous Nakamba is out of the team as he recovers from the long term from the knee injury which saw him mis the better part of the club’s unsuccessful league campaign which eneded in relegation.
Italy based versatile fullback Jordan Zemura is part of the squad silencing reports which suggested that he has been dropped for allegedly voicing his displeasure at former coach Norman Mapeza’s coaching methods.
South Afarica based striker Douglas Mapfumo who plays for Polokwane City received his maiden call into the Warriors’ squad on the back of his solid performances in South Africa while England-based forward Macauley Bonne is a notable absentee in the squad.
Zimbabwe, who are unable to host international matches due to substandard stadia in the country will play their home game against Lesotho in Johannesburg on June 7, before taking on South Africa in Free State, four days later.
The Warriors are looking to register their first win of the World Cup qualification campaign after they drew both matches against Rwanda and Nigeria in Kigali.
Rwanda surprisingly top Group C with four points ahead of South Africa who have three points while Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Lesotho are all on two points.
Benin anchor the group with a single point after the first two matches.
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)z Douglas Mapfumo (Polokwane City), Tymon Machope (Simba Bhora)