INTERIM Warriors coach Rahman Gumbo has named a balanced squad to face Burundi in a 2013 African Cup of Nations qualifier in Bujumbura at the end of the month.
Gumbo was last week roped in as caretaker national team coach after Norman Mapeza was suspended over match fixing allegations.
The scandal has also deprived Gumbo of some 80 players who would have been available for selection but cannot play for the national side until they are cleared by the ZIFA ethics committee.
Still, Gumbo managed to name a squad mixing experience and youth with veteran Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Esrom Nyandoro making a return after having been overlooked by Norman Mapeza in recent matches.
Gumbo who takes charge of the Burundi game with assistant David Mandigora called up senior players like UK-based Onismor Bhasera who has fully recovered from a knee injury, Musa Mguni and Dickson Choto.
Also making the squad are Vusa Nyoni, Quincy Antipas, Tinashe Nengomasha, Tapiwa Kapini as well as the pair of Mandla Sibanda and former Gunners defender Arnold Chaka who are playing in the Botswana Be Mobile League.
Zimbabwe travel to Burundi for the preliminary round qualifier against Burundi on February 29.
Mapeza, though, is likely to resume his duties if he is cleared by the ethics committee.
SQUAD
Goalkeepers: T Kapini (AmaZulu, SA), M Jani (Motor Action), G Chigova (Dynamos)
Defenders: T Khumbuyani (Caps United), N Kaseke (AC Omonia, Cyprus), O Bhasera (Plymouth Argyle, England), G Moyo (Motor Action), D Choto (Legia Warsaw, Poland), O Moyo (Hwange), A Chaka (Mochudi Centre Chiefs, Botswana)
Midfielders: T Nengomasha, A Amidu (Kaizer Chiefs, SA), E Nyandoro (Mamelodi Sundowns, SA), V Nyoni (KFC Germinal Beerschot, Belgium), D Mukamba (Dynamos), A Gutu (KFF, Sweden), Q Antipas (Sønderjyske, Denmark), M Sibanda (Botswana Meat Commission, Botswana)
Strikers: T Mandaza (Platinum Stars, SA), R Mutuma (Dynamos), C Sibanda, D Ngoma (FC Platinum), K Musona (TSG Hoffeinheim, Germany), M Mguni (FC Terek Grozny, Russia)