Ndlovu gets Warriors recall for South Africa match

Ndlovu gets Warriors recall for South Africa match

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By Nkanyiso Moyo

FORMER Warriors captain Peter Ndlovu has been recalled for Zimbabwe’s international friendly match against South Africa in Germiston on Tuesday.

The Mamelodi Sundowns star man was dropped from the Warriors squad when Brazilian coach, Jose Valinhos, took over the reigns in January. Warriors skipper Benjani Mwaruwari later revealed the coach had told him he was not interested in players over the age of 32.

But Ndlovu’s good form at Sundowns has forced the coach into a rethink. The former Coventry City and Sheffield United striker struck twice last week as Sundowns, known as the Brazilians, beat Miembeni of Zanzibar in the preliminary round of the Champions League.

The 34-year-old striker has two goals in the Champions League and five in the league, despite being in the twilight of his career.

When new Warriors coach Valinhos arrived in the country in January, he made it clear that he wanted players below the age of 32, effectively ruling out Ndlovu, France-based Harlington Shereni and Gilbert Mushangazhike, now at Orlando Pirates.

But the team announced Friday indicated a change of mind and national teams general manager Sharrif Mussa in announcing the team on Friday said the door was never closed on the older players.

Mussa said: “He (Valinhos) had to start with the young players and then rope in the experienced ones later. He was not discarding them at all.

“This match is an opportunity to see them in action, assess them before he picks up the final team for the March 26 international friendly. It is a welcome relief for the technical team. We need more of these games if a strong squad is to be prepared for the World Cup qualifiers.”

Bafana Bafana manager Sipho Nkumane revealed they had originally intended to play Malawi.

“Initially, we were negotiated to play Malawi but there were a few problems. The squad will only compromise local players, with the exception of those from Bidvest Wits, who will be involved in a Nedbank Cup match next week,” he told Kick Off.

Valinhos also included the Platinum Stars pair of goalkeeper Tapuwa Kapini, recently chided by his coach Miguel Gamondi for his theatrics and defender Bekithemba Ndlovu, who makes a return to the national team after almost two years.

Sundowns midfielder Esrom Nyandoro will be joined by Tinashe Nengomasha, who plays in the same position at Kaizer Chiefs, Onisimo Bhasera, Zvenyika Makonese and James Matola.

The bulk of the Warriors squad will be mostly made up of local-based players for the match which kicks off at 7PM Tuesday.

The Warriors have been grouped with Guinea, Kenya and Namibia in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers that begin in June and will four consecutive matches in the same month that will determine who goes to the next stage of the qualifiers.

Team to play South Africa:

Tapuwa Kapini, Energy Murambadoro, Washington Arubi, Peter Ndlovu, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Tinashe Nengomasha, James Matola, Esrom Nyandoro, Kingstone Nkatha, Gilbert Mushangazhike, Onisimo Bhasera, Zvenyika Makonese, Admire Dzukamanja, Mtshumayeli Moyo, Elvis Meleka, Lionel Mtizwa, Method Mwanjali, Gift Karimupfumbi, Clemence Matawu, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Gilbert Banda, Justice Majabvi, Edward Sadomba, Zhainu Jambo
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