Matema, Murape in COSAFA squad

Matema, Murape in COSAFA squad

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By Sports Reporter

WARRIORS coach Charles Mhlauri has named premiership leading scorers Ralph Matema and Murape Murape in the squad for the COSAFA Castle Cup championships set for next weekend in Mozambique.

Mhlauri named the 31-man squad of local players who are expected to go into camp on Thursday after the Independence Trophy final between Highlanders and Masvingo in Harare.

The squad would be trimmed to 18 next week.

Highlanders’ Matema, who leaves for South African giants Orlando Pirates in July, and Murape of Dynamos, have each scored seven goals in this campaign after seven matches.

Six international players will not be released for the 28-29 April event because it is outside the FIFA calendar.

The players are Vusa Nyoni and Honour Gombami of Cercle Brugge in Belgium, Evans Gwekwerere of Moroka Swallows, Onesimo Bhasera of Maritzburg United, Musa Mguni of Omonia and Noel Kaseke of Paralimni, both in Cyprus.

“With those out for now, we will have to focus more on the Under 23 players as we want to build up the players who did well in the All Africa and Olympic Games qualifiers.

“We are hopeful that we will be able to gain something from the tournament,” Mhlauri said Wednesday.

Some of the Under 23 players include goalkeeper Washington Arubi, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Zhaimu Jambo, William Mapfumo, Gladmore Tembo, Carrington Gomba, Ali Sadiki and Obadiah Tarumbwa.

Mhlauri won the COSAFA championships in 2005 with homegrown players and he is hoping for a repeat -- which will be Zimbabwe’s fourth.

COSAFA Castle Cup Squad:

N. Dlamini, W. Arubi, T. Dube, Z. Ngodzo, G. Dondo, O. Moyo, Z. Jambo, T. Sweswe, W. Mapfumo, G. Tembo, R. Marere, C. Nhamoinesu, E. Mannelo, C. Matawu, B. Marere, E. Sadomba, C. Gomba, J. Majabvi, Peter Mubaiwa, M. Mupera, S. Alumenda, A. Sadiki, M. Murape, L. Mtizwa, D. Shoko, R. Matema, O. Tarumbwa, W. Pakamisa, K. Nkata, R. Mteki, H. Chinyama
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