Arubi gets surprise call-up to Warriors squad

Arubi gets surprise call-up to Warriors squad

CHARLES Mhlauri, Zimbabwe's national football team coach

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LANCASHIRE Steel goalkeeper Washington Arubi has been included in the Warriors squad for the African Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifier against Rwanda set for next month.

Zimbabwe national team manager Ernest Sibanda yesterday said Arubi was drafted in as a cover for Energy Murambadoro who is currently in England on trials with Leeds United.

Sibanda said Arubi is among the four goalkeepers in the 29-member squad for the Rwanda tie and is one of the three goalkeepers in an all locally-based ensemble for the friendly matches against Mozambique and Zambia this weekend.

“We have called up four goalkeepers because we do not know much about Murambadoro. We would want to avoid the recurrence of a nasty situation we encountered in the run up to the Gabon game when we had to rush around for a late replacement for Murambadoro who developed illness just before the team’s departure,” said Sibanda.

Zimbabwe play Mozambique this Friday evening before facing northern neighbours Zambia on Sunday in friendly matches at Rufaro Stadium, as they step up preparations for the crucial tie against Rwanda scheduled for September 4 at the National Sports Stadium.

Arubi will have to fight for the jersey against veteran Buymore goal-minder Gift Muzadzi, Tapuwa Kapini and Murambadoro, if he manages to turn up. The technical team also called up some of the players who featured in the recent Cosafa Castle Cup finals in South Africa.

Peter Ndlovu is expected to lead the squad, which has 15 foreign-based players.

Among the foreign legion are Charles Yohanne, Edelbert Dinha, Esrom Nyandoro, Edmore Mashiri, Honour Gombami, Brian Badza, Dumisani Mpofu, Joel Luphahla and Benjani Mwaruwari.

Brian Badza who recently signed for Belgian outfit Germinal Beerschot is also among the foreign players together with clubmate Cephas Chimedza.
Shabanie Mine’s Method Mwanjali, Francis Chandida, Ashley Rambanepasi, Hwange’s Obert Moyo and James Matola are among the local players included in both squads.

“We expect all the players in the squad for the friendly matches in camp by midday on Friday. The same squad will provide the team for the other friendly match against Zambia on Sunday,” he said.

“We have also written invitation letters to the clubs for the release of our foreign based players for the Rwanda game and they should start trooping in early next week,” said Sibanda.

Buymore’s scoring machine More Moyo, Vusa Nyoni of AmaZulu, Lancashire Steel’s Justice Majabvi, Leonard Tsipa, Givemore Manuella and Gombami are also part of the squad for the friendly games - Daily Mirror

Squad for Rwanda: T Kapini, G Muzadzi, E Murambadoro, W Arubi, D Mpofu, Z Makonese, H Dick, J Matola, C Yohane, C Chimedza, M Mwanjali, O Moyo, E Dinha, E Nyandoro, T Nengomasha, R Sibanda, J Luphahla, P Ndlovu, E Mashiri, F Chandida, G Lunga, C Matawu, H Gombami, A Rambanepasi, B Mwaruwari, S Kawondera, B Badza, S Sandaka, L Kurauzvione

Squad for the friendly games: G Muzadzi, T Kapini, W Arubi, M Mwanjali, G Lunga, H Dick, J Matola, O Moyo, A Rambanepasi, R Sibanda, C Matawu, S Sandaka, F Chandida, G Manuela, L Kurauzvione, L Tsipa, R Undi, D Sengu, J Majabvi, M Moyo, H Gombami, V Nyoni
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