Mapeza has named a largely unchanged 23-man squad from the one that did duty against Cape Verde at the National Sports Stadium last year. The game ended in a 0-0 draw. The team is set to go into camp on March 20 but it is the inclusion of some overseas-based players that would raise eyebrows.
Five European-based players Karuru (Bouglone, France), Nyoni (Germinal Beerchot, Belgium), Kaseke (Omonia Nicosia, Cyprus), Onismor Bhasera (Plymouth Argyle, England) and Justice Majabvi (Lansk Linz, Austria) have been called for the match against Mali.
Investigations by Standardsport have revealed that three of these players Karuru, Nyoni and Kaseke do not deserve to be part of the Warriors as they are benchwarmers at their respective clubs.
Majabvi and Bhasera are the only overseas players who are getting game time.
Karuru (22), the former Gunners midfielder has gatecrashed into the Warriors as he played 1 094 minutes at his France Ligue 1 side Bouglone.
He has had 19 appearances out of the team’s 26 matches played so far. Of the 19 appearances he was in the first team line up in 12 matches only.
In the 12 matches he came from bench seven times and was taken out in six matches. He warmed the bench in nine matches. Karuru has scored two goals for Bouglone and has received five yellow cards.
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Nyoni is another shock inclusion. The 24-year midfielder has had 13 appearances for Germinal Beerschot.
The team has played 28 league matches this season in the Pro League and is lying fourth from the bottom.
Nyoni has started in 10 matches, coming as a substitute three times, and was substituted once. He sat on the bench 12 times. His playing time translates to 904 minutes. Nyoni has never scored a goal for his club since arriving from Cercle Brugge. Of all these appearances, Nyoni was cautioned once.
The Cyprus-based Kaseke (30), in his fourth season at Omonia Nicosia, is another surprise inclusion. In total, Kaseke’s playing time this season has translated to 501 minutes. He has made 10 appearances, seven times in the first 11 squad and came in as substitute three times. He was substituted four times.
He was an unused substitute once and managed to score one goal for his club.
In all the appearances, Kaseke was cautioned three times only and has never seen red. His club Omonia Nicosia has played 24 matches this season and is second on the 16-member log table at 47 points, nine points behind log leaders APOEL who are at 56 points. Kaseke, who is normally played as right back in Warriors colours, is playing as a defensive midfielder at Omonia Nicosia.
However, Mapeza should be commended for noticing the performances of Bhasera and Majabvi. Bhasera has had 28 appearances in Plymouth Argyle’s 35 league matches, which translates to 2 264 minutes.
Bhasera, who was due to play against Hartpool yesterday came in as substitute for the English side on one occasion and was substituted eight times. He was on the bench once and netted one goal for the Pilgrims. He has received five yellow cards.
Majabvi (26) has 21 appearances for Lask Linz in the Austrian Bundesliga, which translates to 1 848 minutes. He was in the first 11 in 21 league matches and substituted twice. He sat on the bench in two matches and has received three yellow cards.
Warriors squad
GoalkeepersW Arubi (Dynamos) T Kapini (Platinum Stars), E Sibanda (CAPS United).
DefendersM Mwanjali (Mamelodi Sundowns), T Sweswe (Kaizer Chiefs); N Kaseke (Omonia Nicosia), G Mapemba (CAPS United), G Zhokinyi (Dynamos), Q Amini (Gunners), O Bhasera (Plymouth Argyle).
MidfieldersT Nengomasha (Kaizer Chiefs), V Nyoni (Germinal Beerschot), O Karuru (US Boulogne), B Ncube (FC Platinum), A Gutu (Dynamos), B Marere (Highfield United), K Billiat (Ajax Cape Town), J Majabvi (LASK Linz), D Mukamba (Dynamos).
StrikersE Sadomba (Al Hilal), N Maroto (FC Platinum), N Mushekwi (Mamelodi Sundowns), K Musona (Kaizer Chiefs).
