Ndlovu, Nyandoro out of Warriors' clash with Bafana Bafana

Ndlovu, Nyandoro out of Warriors' clash with Bafana Bafana

OUT: Ndlovu's return delayed

• Ndlovu gets Warriors recall

• Valinhos spells end of Ndlovu's international career

• Brazilian Valinhos is new Zimbabwe coach

• Zimbabwe set to name Valinhos as new coach

• Zimbabwe to unveil Brazilian coach

• Glory for Under 17s, Mighty Warriors

• Mandigora, Msiska get Warriors jobs

• Zimbabwe's Under 20 team wins COSAFA Cup

• Mapeza's brave Warriors beat Malawi

• Mapeza leaves out foreign-based professionals

• Mapeza, Duvillard to take charge of Warriors

• Mhlauri bitter over Warriors exit

• ZIFA wields axe on Mhlauri

• Mhlauri a mistake, says Chidzambwa

• Warriors fall in Morocco, Mhlauri faces axe

• Mhlauri's fury over Ndlovu no-show

By Nkanyiso Moyo

PETER Ndlovu’s will have to wait much longer for his return to Zimbabwe’s national soccer team after a rescheduling of fixtures by the South African Premier Soccer League forced him to drop out of the team to play South Africa on Tuesday night.

The Warriors take on Bafana Bafana in an international friendly match in Germiston on Tuesday night in what will be new coach Jose Valinhos’ first game in charge since his appointment in January.

After originally dropping the 34-year-old Ndlovu when announcing his first team because he was “too old”, Valinhos had a change of heart last week when the Mamelodi Sundowns man scored his seventh goal this season.

But a rescheduled match between Mamelodi Sundowns and Santos set for Wednesday night means Ndlovu will have to delay his return.

Ndlovu’s Sundowns teammate Esrom Nyandoro has also be asked to pull out by the ‘Brazilians’.

Zimbabwe left for South Africa on Monday afternoon and Valinhos told of his disappointment at the loss of Nyandoro and Ndlovu.

Speakign through an interpreter, the Brazilian coach said: “They will get another chance, hopefully on March 26. I would really have loved to have them for the match, so that I complete my assessment of the players in Africa before turning to those based in Europe.”

Valinhos called a squad of local players and a few other players based in South Africa. But with Zimbabwe in off-season, Valinhos fears most of his players are probably not match fit.

He said: “This is my first match, the South Africans having been playing more matches than us and their league is on, so it is going to be tough. If we had a calendar like theirs, we would be better off.

“We will have two sessions to work on a final team before the game.”

Reports from South Africa said coach Carlos Alberto Parriera is sticking to his plan of testing new players for the national team. He has named six new players in his 22-man squad.

"We need to give players who play well for their clubs a chance to show what they can do for the national team," he said. "It's the only way we can build a good team for the World Cup.”

The team to play Zimbabwe includes six uncapped players, including Supersport United's 18-year old striker, Kermit Erasmus.

"In Brazil we always have young players in the team, Pele was 17 when he played for the national team and now there is Pato (AC Milan striker) who is just 18
and he is a good prospect for the Brazil national team,” Parriera said.

"I did not only select Erasmus because of his age, but because I liked what I saw. He has potential and this is what we need to build our team, young players who have potential.”

Erasmus was voted Man of the Match when SuperSport beat Ajax Cape Town 3-2 in a midweek match at Atteridgeville. Parreira was in the stands when the teenager scored his first goal for United.

"He (Erasmus) now has the chance to show what he can do at this level, and so do the others. We'll continue like this (bringing in potential World Cup players) until the Confederations Cup next year. We are building a team for that and the World Cup," said the 1994 World Cup winning coach.

ZIMBABWE TEAM:

Tapuwa Kapini, Energy Murambadoro, Washington Arubi, Zephaniah Ngodzo, Gilbert Banda, Elvis Meleka, Lionel Mtizwa, Justice Majabvi, Clemence Matawu, Admire Dzukamanja, Cuthbert Malajila, Method Mwanjali, George Karimupfumbi, Mtshumayeli Moyo, Bekithemba Ndlovu, Onismor Bhasera, Zvenyika Makonese, James Matola, Tinashe Nengomasha, Gilbert Mushangazhike, Kingstone Nkhata

SOUTH AFRICA TEAM:

Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs) and Senzo Meyiwa (Orlando Pirates)

Defenders: Bongani Khumalo and Siboniso Gaxa (SuperSport United), Bryce Moon and Brett Evans (Ajax Cape Town), Bevan Fransman (Moroka Swallows), Mokete Tsotetsi (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Innocent Mdledle (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders: Papi Zothwane and Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Thulasizwe Mbuyane(Free State Stars), Bafo Biyela (AmaZulu), Siphiwe Tshabalala(Kaizer Chiefs), Bennet Chenene and Teko Modise (Orlando Pirates), Dumisani Ngwenya (AmaZulu)

Strikers: Bernard Parker (Thanda Royal Zulu), Excellent Walaza (Orlando Pirates), Kermit Erasmus (SuperSport United), Sthembiso Ngcobo (Free State Stars)
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
ozzie@newzimbabwe.com