Brazil’s move opens window for Mapeza

BRAZIL have selected eight players from the English Premiership for next month’s 2022 World Cup qualifiers, despite the country remaining on the UK’s travel red list.

This probably provides the biggest hint that countries like Zimbabwe could be able to get their stars, who play in the various English leagues, for the next World Cup qualifiers.

The Warriors failed to get any of their best players, who are based in the United Kingdom, for the opening qualifiers against Bafana Bafana and Ethiopia.

Without the likes of Marvelous Nakamba, Tendayi Darikwa and Jordan Zemura, the Warriors struggled badly as they picked just one out of four points.

They were held to a disappointing goalless home draw by a makeshift Bafana Bafana side before falling to a surprise 0-1 defeat at the hands of Ethiopia.

“From our understanding, FIFA have been engaging the British government over this issue but they have not said anything yet,’’ said Warriors team manager, Wellington Mpandare, earlier this week.

‘’We are still hoping that the thorny issues will be ironed out because these issues are affecting football, even in the big countries, like Brazil and Argentina.

“So, it’s an issue that is still being considered and we have to remain positive.”

Brendan Galloway, Admiral Muskwe and David Moyo are some of the Zimbabwe players based in the United Kingdom.

The Warriors are now under the guidance of Norman Mapeza.

Last month most English clubs refused to release players called up by South American countries. Currently anyone travelling to Brazil from the UK must quarantine for 14 days when they arrive in the country and 10 days when they arrive back in the UK.

But the Brazil FA said “positive talks” have been held over travel exemptions.

Liverpool duo Alisson and Fabinho, Manchester City’s Ederson and Gabriel Jesus, Chelsea defender Thiago Silva, Manchester United midfielder Fred, Leeds forward Raphinha and

Tottenham defender Emerson Royal have all been called up for matches against Venezuela, Colombia and Uruguay.

Former Middlesbrough midfielder Juninho Paulista, the Brazil national team coordinator, said the eight England-based players had been called up with the belief an agreement would be made next week allowing players to avoid travel restrictions.

“We’ve had lots of positive meetings with Fifa, the Premier League and the British government, and we trust that there will be a positive solution next week,” he said. “That is why we have called them up.”

The Brazilian football federation will have to reach a separate agreement with the country’s health authority to exempt England-based players from quarantine on their arrival. In August the Premier League released a statement saying its clubs had “reluctantly but unanimously”decided not to release players for matches in red-list countries during September’s international break.

However, four players, Emiliano Buendia and Emiliano Martinez of Aston Villa, and Giovani lo Celso and Cristian Romero of Tottenham, travelled to Argentina to join up with their national side.

But, that led to farcical scenes at Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena when the Brazil v Argentina World Cup qualifier was abandoned after five minutes when Brazilian health officials came on to the pitch to stop the match, saying the four England-based players for Argentina had to quarantine.

Despite complaints being made by the Brazilian football federation, as well as those from Mexico, Paraguay and Chile over the Premier League not releasing players for matches, all affected players were allowed to play their next matches for their clubs.

have the power to enforce five-day suspensions for players not released to play for their national sides. Brazil have won all eight of their qualifiers so far and are six points clear of Argentina at the top of the South American qualifying group for Qatar 2022. — Sport/Sports Reporter.