WARRIORS captain Benjani Mwaruwari and his deputy Esrom Nyandoro have been dropped from the team that will play Liberia in a Group A 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier in Montnorovia on September 5.
Caretaker coach Norman Mapeza named a 36-man squad consisting of home-based and foreign professionals on Tuesday. But Mwaruwari and Nyandoro were conspicuously absent from that squad.
Mapeza defended his decision to leave out the duo.
"I think you are aware that Benjani is clubless at the moment, and I decided as coach to leave him out,” Mapeza told reporters at a press conference in Harare. “As for Esrom, I decided to give some youngsters a chance.”
Mapeza, a former Zimbabwe captain, added: “It does not mean the end of the road for them because if they start playing well we will always call them. The team will be trimmed and I will then appoint a captain before we leave for Liberia. I am happy with the team I have selected. I am confident we will come out with a positive result from Liberia.”
Nyandoro is the captain of South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns. Mwaruwari, who is now a free agent after his contract with Manchester City ended in May, is currently training with English Premiership side Blackburn Rovers, hoping to seal a deal.
Mapeza’s team which has 13 players playing abroad will go into camp on Monday.
The Warriors are in the same group with seasoned campaigners Mali and minnows Cape Verde.
Provisional Squad To Play Liberia
Goalkeepers: W Arubi (Dynamos), T Dube (Gunners), Maxwell Nyamupanedengu (Kiglon),
Defenders: G Zhokinyu (Dynamos), D Vheremu (Gunners), G Banda (Highlanders), G Mapemba (CAPS United), Z Ngodzo (Highlanders), N Mukumbi (CAPS United), Q Armin (Gunners), J Kapenya (Hwange)
Midfielders: A Rambanepasi (Dynamos), W Katsande (Gunners), E Mudzingwa (Highlanders), B Marere (Dynamos), R Muteki (Black Mambas), B Ncube (Motor Action), A Sadiki (Gunners), A Gahadzikwa (Motor Action)
Strikers: N Maroto (Gunners), E Gwekwerere (Dynamos), C Sibanda (Motor Action), C Malajila (Dynamos)
Foreign Contingent : M Mwanjali (Mamelodi Sundowns), T Sweswe (Kaizer Chiefs), N Kaseke (AC Amona), O Bhasera (Plymouth Arglye), C Nhamoinesu (Zaglebie Lubin- Poland), J Majabvi (Lask Linz, Austria), L Mtizwa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Q Antipas (Sonderjysk E- Denmark), C Matawu (Polonia Bytom- Poland), K Musona (Kaizer Chiefs), E Sadomba (Al-Hilal-Sudan), T Rusike (Ajax Capetown-SA), N Mushekwi (Mamelodi Sundowns)