Marinica names Four Nations Warriors squad, snubs Munetsi again

By Auther Chimbgwa

Zimbabwe national team coach Marian Marinica has announced his Warriors team set to take part in the forthcoming Four Nations International Tournament in Francistown, Botswana, but kept out France-based star midfielder Marshall Munetsi.

The four-team tournament, which also features the hosts Botswana, Zambia and Malawi, will be held from the 28th to the 31st of this month.

Munetsi, considered one of the country’s best football exports of all time because of his achievements, was first overlooked from the Warriors AFCON squad in December on the grounds that he was still nursing an injury he had suffered while playing for the English premiership side Wolverhampton.

Munetsi later protested the claim, saying he was fit and prepared to feature in the Warriors team.

Other notable omissions from the new Warriors squad are South African based goalkeeper Washington Arubi who was replaced by ZPC Kariba shot stopper Future Sibanda.

Brendan Galloway of Plymouth Argyle, Tawanda Chirewa of Barnsley and Jordan Zemura of Udinese Calcio, were all sidelined through injury.

Marinica, however, appears to have kept faith with the squad that did duty for the country in the recent AFCON tournament in Morocco.

Sheffield Wednesday players Marvelous Nakamba and Sean Fusire are among the players who have been included in the squad as Marinica largely maintained is faith in the foreign based contingent of stars.

The Warriors coach has also roped in the experience of English Championship side Ipswich Town’s Corbin Mthunzi and Bosnian based Shane Maroodza, who plies his trade with Sarajevo FC.

GOALKEEPERS
Elvis Chipezeze (Magetsi FC)
Future Sibanda (ZPC Kariba)
Marley Tavaziva (Brentford)

DEFENDERS
Andrew Mbeba (Highlanders FC)
Emmanuel Jalai (Durban City FC)
Corbin Mthunzi (Ipswich Town)
Munashe Garananga (Hibernian FC)
Gerald Takwara (Al-Minaa SC)
Isheanesu Mauchi (Chippa United)
Teenage Hadebe (FC Cincinnati)
Shane Maroodza (FK Sarajevo)

MIDFIELDERS
Marvelous Nakamba (Sheffield Wednesday)
Jonah Fabisch (FC Erzgebirge Aue)
Panashe Makwiramiti (Haverfordwest County)
Prosper Padera (SJK Seinäjoki)
Bill Antonio (KV Mechelen)
Sean Fusire (Sheffield Wednesday)

FORWARDS
Tawanda Maswanhise (Motherwell FC)
Knowledge Musona (Scotland)
Prince Dube (Young Africans SC)
Daniel Musendami (Orlando Pirates)
Macauley Bonne (Billericay Town)
Thando Ngwenya (AmaZulu FC)