Zimbabwe Football Association has been forced to adjust the Warriors provisional squad for the FIFA World Cup 2022 Qualifiers after England teams declined to release players citing England’s stringent quarantine regulations.
The Warriors face South Africa at home on September 3 before travelling to Ethiopia for a match up on September 7.
They will be without key players – Admiral Muskwe (Luton Town), Macauley Bonne (Ipswich Town) and Marvelous Nakamba (Aston Villa) – following an adverse position taken by the English Leagues to bar players from fulfilling the national assignments.
ZIFA had been making frantic efforts for these players to be released for national duty but their efforts hit a brick wall, ZIFA communications officer Xolisani Gwesela said.
This was despite the release of the national team players being mandatory for all clubs for this September 2021 window.
The international break began August 30.
“The Warriors technical team has replaced players named in the initial squad who could not make it due to various issues,” Gwesela said.
Midfielder Ovidy Karuru (Unattached) has asked to be withdrawn from the national side while he chases down a club contract while Jonah Fabisch (Hamburger SV) will also be another absentee.
While Zimbabwe was being blocked from bringing their England-based stars for the World Cup qualifiers, the rest of the world appeared to be forcing their way through the UK’s travel red list because of the requirement for 10 days of quarantine in a Government hotel on their return.
Tottenham and Aston Villa, were on Monday night reported to have struck deals with Argentina to allow four players — Emi Martinez and Emi Buendia of Villa and Cristian Romero and Giovani Lo Celso of Tottenham — to feature in two World Cup qualifiers in Venezuela and Brazil, both on the red list.
“But it is the release of the Argentina quartet that has sparked fury in Brazil, because head coach Tite named nine Premier League stars from six different clubs in his original squad,” wrote the UK dailymail.
“On Friday, having been told they would not be released, Tite selected nine replacements only to discover, 48 hours later, that Argentina, their fierce rivals and opponents in Sao Paulo on Sunday, would be at full-strength, including those in defiance of the Premier League ban.”
Dailymail added: “On Tuesday night the Brazilians were trying to prise some of their original first-choice players out of their clubs, although with little optimism.”
Meanwhile, Confederation of African Football (CAF) has turned down ZIFA’s request to let in 10 000 supporters during the FIFA World Cup 2022TM qualifier between Zimbabwe and South Africa.
CAF noted that the ideal scenario during the pandemic is to play matches behind closed doors, but exceptions are being made to allow spectators into the stadium, where and when the stadium in question meets required standards.
“CAF analysed and assessed your request from a medical, stadium requirements compliance, and safety & security perspective in your venue. Accordingly, a decision has been taken not to allow the presence of spectators in the aforementioned match,” CAF’s development division wrote.
Since the resumption of international football late in 2020, National Sports Stadium has been hosting senior men’s international games on provisional basis. The stadium had been barred in 2020 just before our Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Algeria.
The absence of bucket seats and electronic access controls are among issues that CAF has continuously urged Zimbabwe to address to get unrestricted approval to host matches.
ZIFA urged government to accelerate renovations at the stadium so that our teams can welcome supporters back in the stadium as is the case in other nations.
Goalkeepers: Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants), Talbert Shumba (Free State Stars), Martin Mapisa (Zamora CF). Defenders: Onismor Bhasera (SuperSport United), Divine Lunga (Mamelodi Sundowns), Takudzwa Chimwemwe (Nkana), Alec Mudimu (Torpedo Kutaisi), Godknows Murwira (Dynamos), Kelvin Moyo (Nkana), William Stima (FC Platinum). Midfielders: Blessing Sarupinda (Sekhukhune United), Jonah Fabisch (Hamburger SV), Marshall Munetsi (Stade de Reims), Tafadzwa Rusike, Thabani Kamusoko (Zesco United), Kudakwashe Mahachi (SuperSport United), Khama Billiat (Kaizer Chiefs), Perfect Chikwende (Simba SC), Butholezwe Ncube (Amazulu), Ishmael Wadi (JDR Stars), Farai Madhananga (Marumo Gallants), Silas Songani FC Platinum), Knowledge Musona © (Al-Tai). Strikers: Terrence Dzvukamanja (Orlando Pirates), Tinotenda Kadewere (Olympique Lyon), Knox Mutizwa (Lamontville Golden Arrows)
