Katsvairo can hit his straps running
KAIZER Chiefs midfielder Michelle Katsvairo will be given an opportunity to put himself in the shop window after being selected by Zimbabwe for their Cosafa Castle Cup campaign.
Chiefs have stated they will loan out the winger for the coming campaign‚ and a strong showing at the regional championship to be hosted in North West will perhaps improve his options.
Katsvairo joined Chiefs from Chicken Inn at the start of the 2016-17 season‚ but made just 11 starts‚ and none since December. He scored two goals.
He is one of five South African-based players called up by Zimbabwe coach Sunday Chidzambwa‚ who has been handed the reins of the national side again for this tournament.
The others are promising young forward Knox Mutizwa‚ who spent last season on loan at Lamontville Golden Arrows from Bidvest Wits‚ former Chiefs and current AmaZulu midfielder Ovidy Karuru‚ Ajax Cape Town defender Eric Chipeta and Polokwane City goalkeeper George Chigova.
Chidzambwa was in charge when Zimbabwe claimed the last of their four Cosafa Castle Cup titles in 2009‚ beating Zambia 3-1 in the final on home soil.
This year they have been drawn in Group B alongside Mozambique‚ Madagascar and Seychelles.
They open their campaign against The Mambas on Monday at the Moruleng Stadium.
The tournament runs from Sunday until the final on July 9‚ with South Africa set to enter at the quarterfinal stage on July 2 when they will play the winner of the first round Group A that contains Angola‚ Tanzania‚ Malawi and Mauritius.
The Zimbabwe squad is:
Goalkeepers: George Chigova (Polokwane City)‚ Takabva Mawaya (Ngezi Platinum Stars)‚ Talbert Mutombeni (Chapungu)
Defenders: Eric Chipeta (Ajax Cape Town)‚ Ocean Mushure (Dynamos)‚ Honest Moyo (Highlanders)‚ Bruce Homora (Black Rhinos)‚ Jimmy Tigere (Harare City)‚ Jameson Mukombwe (Black Rhinos)‚ Nyasha Mpofu (Shabanie)
Midfielders: Liberty Chakoroma (Ngezi Platinum Stars)‚ Gerald Takwara (FC Platinum) Ovidy Karuru (AmaZulu)‚ Leeroy Mavunga (Yadah Stars)‚ Talent Chawapiwa (FC Platinum)‚ Michelle Katsvairo (Kaizer Chiefs)‚ Innocent Mucheneka (Chicken Inn)‚ Collins Duwa (Shabanie)
Strikers: Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows)‚ Prince Dube (Highlanders)‚ Bukhosi Sibanda (Bantu Rovers)‚ Blessing Majarira (Herentals)‚ Raphael Manuvire (ZPC Kariba). — TMG