Zimbabwe Warriors head coach Callisto Pasuwa included Poland-based Dzikamai Gwaze in his squad to face Uganda in a friendly and later Malawi in the AFCON 2017 qualifier.
The Gornik Zabrze dreadlocked midfielder, like Uganda’s Lorenzen Melvyn of Werder Bremen has never played for Zimbabwe.
Missing on the team is Emma Okwi’s teammate at Sonderjyske, winger Silas Songani.
Despite scoring two weeks ago to help Sonderjyske qualify next season’s UEFA Europa League, he has been left out of the team.
Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder, Khama Billiat is part of the team set to play Uganda in the international friendly match on Tuesday and Malawi in the AFCON qualifier. Billiat is teammate to Cranes’ goalkeeper, Dennis Onyango.
Harare City midfielder Farai Madhanhanga has also made his way in Pasuwa’s AFCON squad.
The squad is however dominated by familiar faces and has a strike force that appears potent with Tendai Ndoro bouncing back into the national fold in a department which also has Knowledge Musona, Nyasha Mushekwi and Matthew Rusike.
Zimbabwe are seeking to maintain their Group L three-point lead as they are bidding for a third AFCON appearance.
Also announced at the same time is the COSAFA Castle Cup squad predominantly composed of local-based players except for Jomo Cosmos midfielder Carlton Mushumba.
AFCON Squad:
Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Tapiwa Chilenga (Triangle)
Defenders: Costa Nhamoinesu (Sparta Prague, Czech Republic), Lawrence Mlanga (Chicken Inn), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders), Onismo Bhasera (Bidvest Wits, South Africa), Elisha Muroiwa (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Blessing Moyo (Harare City)
Midfielders: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs, South Africa), Marvelous Nakamba (Vittese Arnhem, Netherlands), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Golden Arrows, South Africa), Marshal Mudehwe (Fc Platinum), Farai Madhanhanga (Harare City), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Dzikamai Gwaze (Gornik Zabrze, Poland), Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
Strikers: Knowledge (K.V. Oostende, Belgium), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Aerbin, China), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg United, South Africa), Matthew Rusike (Helsingborg IF, Sweden), Cuthbert Malajila (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa), Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates, South Africa)
COSAFA Cup Squad:
Goalkeepers: MUKURUVA Tatenda (Dynamos), BERNARD Donovan (How Mine), CHADYA Nelson (Ngezi Platinum)
Defenders: ZVIREKWI Hardlife (Caps United), MOYO Blessing (Harare City), KANGWA Bruce (Highlanders), PFUMBIDZAI Ronald (Caps United), MHLANGA Lawrence (Chicken Inn), HADEBE Teenage (Chicken Inn), MUROIWA Elisha (Dynamos), STIMA William (Tsholotsho)
Midfielders: MUDEWE Marshall (Fc Platinum), PHIRI Danny (Chicken Inn), MASUKU Nqubizita (Fc Platinum), MADHANANGA Farai (Harare City), MANUVIRE Rapheal (Harare City), NADOLO King (Highlanders), CHAWAPIWA Talent (Zpc Kariba), BAKACHEZA Hillary (Fc Platinum), KUTINYU Tafadzwa (Chicken Inn)
Strikers: KATSVAIRO Mitchell (Chicken Inn), MANONDO William (Harare City), MUSONA Walter (FC Platinum), MUSHUMBA Carlton (Jomo Cosmos, South Africa), TARUMBWA Obediah (Highlanders)
