ZIFA, PSL clash over Warriors

ZIFA and the Premier Soccer League might be headed for another showdown following allegations the Normalisation Committee has reneged on an agreement reached by clubs on the selection of the Warriors side to face Botswana in an international friendly on Saturday.

Interim Warriors coach Baltemar Brito named his first senior side just days after the Highlanders gaffer was appointed to the senior national team job.

The 71-year-old Brazilian beat a strong field of more than 200 applicants for the Warriors post.

Yesterday, the coach released a 21-man squad via Normalisation Committee member Rosemary Mugadza.

The Warriors will play the Zebras in Gaborone in a friendly match to commemorate Botswana’s Independence Day.

But, as they have often done since their appointment on July 11, Lincoln Mutasa and his committee courted controversy over the composition of the squad.

It emerged that two weeks prior to the appointment of the Warriors coach, the Normalisation Committee met with the PSL leadership and also discussed the friendly with Botswana.

It was generally agreed that selectors would pick not more than two players per club for the assignment.

While both Mutasa and committee member Rosemary Mugadza ignored questions on their agreement with the PSL, the league’s chief executive officer, Kenny Ndebele, confirmed they had discussed at length the need for ZIFA to consider the top-flight body’s obligations when arranging the national teams’fixtures outside of the FIFA calendar for internationals.

Ndebele said they agreed with ZIFA on the modalities of how the Warriors’squad to face the Zebras would be picked.

“When we met with the Normalisation Committee, we discussed the issue of fixtures and that we cannot afford to disrupt the PSL games for matches that are outside the FIFA calendar,” said Ndebele.

“As a result, we agreed that for the friendly match in Botswana, the Normalisation Committee would tell their coaches to pick not more than two players per club, if they really needed to, as we have more than 500 players in the PSL capable of playing in such a commemorative assignment.”

After the agreement, the PSL went on release their Chibuku Super Cup quarter-final fixtures scheduled for September 30 and October 1.

“We agreed with the Normalisation Committee in our meeting with them that no matches would be postponed because of the Warriors’ match in Botswana.

“As such, we are not going to postpone any games as we intend to move to midweek league fixtures after the Chibuku quarter-finals.

“We are actually surprised that, against the spirit of that meeting, the coaches have gone ahead and picked three players each from clubs like Highlanders and Dynamos, which have Chibuku Super Cup games on the same weekend as the Botswana game.

“It seems someone did not relay the message about limiting the selection to the coaches,’’ Ndebele

added.

Dynamos chief executive officer Jonathan Mashingaidze said they would closely monitor the situation before rushing to release their star players.

“We are aware that this game is outside of the FIFA calendar and we will not compromise our Chibuku Cup and league aspirations by rushing to release all our players for a game for which we are not obliged to. So, as Dynamos, we will be closely monitoring developments,” he said.

Away from the looming showdown between ZIFA and the PSL, Brito was not immediately available to discuss the criteria he used to select his maiden Warriors side, as he was reportedly travelling to Hwange for Highlanders’ league game against the coalminers at the Colliery this afternoon.

His assistant Bongani Mafu said Brito would only be in a position to discuss the Warriors’ assignment after dispensing with his Bosso duties later today.

It is not clear whether Brito is eyeing future national assignments or is only after immediate results, as there appears to be no attempt to also give the bulk of the younger players a chance in Warriors colours.

While there would be no qualms over the inclusion of the Premiership’s leading goalscorers Obriel Chirinda (10) and Fortune Binzi (nine), there are questions on the rationale behind William Manondo’s inclusion. The 32-year-old CAPS United striker has been a pale shadow of the 2022 Premiership Golden Boot winner.

It is so hard to justify the inclusion of any Makepekepe players in current form.

There will be questions, too, on the inclusion of players such as 33-year-old Qadr Amini and 30-year-old Godknows Murwira at the expense of some of the Premiership’s young talent, who include FC Platinum’s Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya, Green Fuel teenage sensation Washington Mapuwa and Ngezi’s Tinotenda Murasiranwa, who are not only enjoying a purple patch but also represent the future.

SQUAD Goalkeepers:

Donovan Bernard (Chicken Inn, Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum Stars)

Defenders: Andrew Mbeba, Peter Muduhwa (Highlanders); Godknows Murwrira (CAPS United); Frank Makarati (Dynamos) Farai Banda (Manica Diamonds); Qadr Amini (Ngezi Platinum Stars); Xolani Ndlovu (Chicken Inn)

Midfielders: Brighton Manhire (Highlanders); Shepherd Mlanga (Chicken Inn); Brian Banda (FC Platinum); Tanaka Shandirwa (Dynamos); Mthokozisi Msebe (Bulawayo Chiefs); Donald Mudadi (Dynamos); Davison Marowa (Herentals); Walter Musona (FC Platinum); Tinotenda Benza (Herentals)

Strikers:

William Manondo (CAPS United); Fortune Binzi (Manica Diamonds); Obriel Chirinda (Bulawayo Chiefs)