Mwaruwari to miss Namibia friendly

Mwaruwari to miss Namibia friendly

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By Sports Reporter

WARRIORS captain Benjami Mwaruwari has been ruled out of the friendly match against Namibia Wednesday night.

Head coach Charles Mhlauri confirmed the Portsmouth striker asked to be excused for the match which is being used as preparation for future 2008 African Cup of Nations assignments.

Zimbabwe are in the same group as Morocco and Malawi.

Only one team will qualify for the finals set for Ghana.

The Warriors have already received a setback after a morale-sapping 1-0 defeat to Malawi in the opening game. It is against this background that Mhlauri wants to leave no stone unturned.

He has called all available foreign based players. But Mwaruwari will not be part of the squad as well as Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Esrom Nyandoro.

"Mwaruwari has said he wants to recover from a slight knee problem while Nyandoro has indicated that his son is not feeling well and needs his attention," said Mhlauri.

The two add to the growing list of possible absentees after Poland-based defender, Dickson Choto, ruled himself out saying Zimbabwe Football Association (Zifa) did not communicate with him.

There were also doubts about Cyprus based defender Noel Kaseke's arrival in the capital in time for the match.

Legendary striker Peter Ndlovu who has been recalled to the squad is also doubtful.

But former Dynamos ace Evans Gwekwerere was already in town Sunday.

Meanwhile, Namibia have called up a trio of players from South African side Black Leopards to compete in the match.

Goalkeeper Ephraim Tjihonge, wingback Hartman Toromba and Costa Khaiseb are also included in coach Ben Bamfuchile's squad for the game.

Richard Gariseb from Wits University is also in the squad for the game but many of Namibia's other South African stalwarts of are out of contention.

The Moroka Swallows trio of Henrico Botes, Mohammed Ouseb and George Hummel will not make the trip.

Ouseb and Hummel are injured while Botes has just been given a six match ban by CAF for a spiting incident in the Nations Cup qualifiers last month and cannot effectively play again for his country for at least the next 12 months.
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