Pasuwa hands Gwaze lifeline

Sport
WARRIORS coach Kalisto Pasuwa raised eyebrows last week when he included Polish-based Dzikamai Andre Gwaze for Zimbabwe’s upcoming crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi, despite the midfielder having played only once for his side Gornik Zabrze in the just-ended 2015/15 season.

WARRIORS coach Kalisto Pasuwa raised eyebrows last week when he included Polish-based Dzikamai Andre Gwaze for Zimbabwe’s upcoming crucial Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi, despite the midfielder having played only once for his side Gornik Zabrze in the just-ended 2015/15 season.

BY SPORTS REPORTER

The 27-year-old midfielder’s career at relegated Polish side Gornik Zabrze has been on a freefall for the past year as he featured for only 37 minutes this season, in a 2-2 draw with Zabglebie Lubin back in August 2015.

In fact, the national team call up may have even surprised Gwaze himself more than anyone else as he has had average seasons at his club Gornik Zabrze in the past, while his campaign this season was simply forgettable.

While Pasuwa claims to have been monitoring the former Monomotapa and DT Africa player, statistics prove that he has been inactive in recent months and the national team call up could actually help revive his career.

Early this year, Gornik Zabrze announced that they would be offloading him at the end of the just-ended season.

“I have been following him,” Pasuwa told reporters early this week when asked about Gwaze’s surprise call up

“He once played for Monomotapa and he is now playing for Gornik in Poland. I have got some videos of him, playing well. Like I said before, we have an open door policy, everyone, who is doing well will be part of us in the Afcon team. There is no one guaranteed a place in the team,” Pasuwa said of the player, who has a total of 12 appearances and 11 from the bench in three full seasons.

Apart from Gwaze, there are other players who were included in the Warriors provisional 26-man squad who have been struggling at their clubs, suggesting that Pasuwa may have overlooked merit in choosing some of the players.

Blessing Moyo, who joined Harare City from Dynamos this season, hasn’t been featuring for the Taurai Mangwiro-coached side, while Cuthbert Malajila has been struggling to have a regular place at Mamelodi Sundowns.

Goalkeeper Bernard Donovan has not been playing consistently at How Mine since the start of the season, while Tapiwa Chilenga has lost his place to Ronald Mudimu at Triangle.

But, while some of the inclusions in the squad might have sent tongues wagging, Pasuwa seems to have a strong squad at his disposal for the Afcon challenge as he has not made too many changes to the team that triumphed against Swaziland in the last round of fixtures.

Having been previously frozen out of the side, red-hot Orlando Pirates marksman Tendai Ndoro was finally rewarded with a call that he thoroughly deserved.

It, however, remains to be seen if he will upset the pecking order in the star-studded frontline which also includes Khama Billiat, Knowledge Musona, Nyasha Mushekwi, Mathew Rusike, Evans Rusike and Malajila.

Pasuwa said he was hoping to use Tuesday’s friendly against Uganda to assess the players at his disposal and try to come up with key combinations ahead of the Malawi clash.

“We have a problem in that some of the guys are actually joining camp on May 31 [Tuesday], which is the day of the friendly match. Generally, we wanted to see how the team would fare against Uganda first before the Malawi game. We also wanted to see how we are able to play according to our plans,” Pasuwa said.

Players such as Mushekwi and Mathew Rusike have fixtures for their clubs, while South Africa-based players like Willard Katsande, Khama Billiat, Evans Rusike may join camp after the Uganda match. Pasuwa said they may end up including players from the Cosafa squad to feature in the friendly match.

Should Zimbabwe beat Malawi and nearest rivals Swaziland and Guinea play out a draw, the Warriors will book a ticket to Gabon where the 2017 Africa Cup of nations will be staged.