The ManicaPost
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
NEWLY appointed Warriors caretaker head coach Joey Antipas, who meets the Zifa president for the first time tomorrow (Saturday) as he officially assumes duty, says there is room for locally-based players in his plans ahead of 2022 World Cup qualifying assignments.
With a contingent of players drawn from Europe, China, Guinea, Tanzania and mainly South Africa, Zimbabwe was of one the nations that did not have locally based players in its ranks save for one Lawrence Mhlanga during the Africa Cup of Nations Cup tournament held in Egypt.
The FC Platinum player actually came in as a replacement for injured Raphael Kutinyu, who had signed for Horoya FC before the 2019 Egypt football showpiece.
But the Chicken Inn trainer, who will start his World Cup qualification campaign with a two-legged preliminary round tie against Somalia between September 9 and 10, believes there could be room for some locally based players who could perform beyond expectation if given a chance.
“I think there could be room for some local players in our squad. It is a fact we have a few players that could perform beyond expectation if given a chance. We will certainly look closely at their performance and the door is open if one deserves. It is all about merit to be part of the national team. I think there is hope for them,” said the two time Premiership championship winning coach in a telephone interview yesterday from his Bulawayo base.
While Zimbabwe did not have a locally based player in their plans, the seven-time African champions and hosts Egypt had 17 locally based players in their squad, albeit having one of the best players in the world in Liverpool forward Mohammed Salah within their squad. The former Motor Action gaffer will start his World Cup qualification campaign with a two-legged preliminary round tie against Somalia next month.
He will also take care of CHAN qualifiers, which will give the local ensemble a chance to prove themselves.
Zimbabwe are back in the World Cup after being drawn to face minnows, Somalia.
Caf last month conducted the draw for the preliminary round featuring the 28 teams who occupy the bottom rungs in African football rankings. According to the format, the 26 highest-ranked teams in Africa in the latest Fifa rankings were exempted from the preliminary round.
Zimbabwe looked like they would also get a bye into the group stages set to begin in March next year but they dropped to 27th place and joined the teams marked for the preliminary round. A day after his official appointment as Warriors caretaker head coach, Joey Antipas requested for a quick processing of England-based striker Macauley Bonne’s papers.
He wants him in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Somalia. Following the retirement of Nyasha Mushekwi, the Warriors are in dire need of a target man up front.
With 45 goals in 90 appearances for his previous club Leyton Orient, Bonne, who now plays for England’s Championship outfit Charlton Athletic, seems to be the right man needed for that job. The coach will also preside over the opening matches of the 2021 AFCON finals this year.
His short-term contract with ZIFA is until the end of the year and the association expect their finances would have improved, by then, to enable them to engage the substantive coach they want. However, it’s also very likely Antipas could be asked to continue in that role should the results be positive.
Zimbabwe now has a number of players plying their trade in competitive leagues overseas, with Marvellous Nakamba having signed for Aston Villa in the English Premier League. Other Europe-based players are Tendai Darikwa, who will miss the rest of the year through injury, Alec Mudimu, Admiral Muskwe, Marshall Munetsi, Teenage Hadebe, Tino Kadewere, Martin Mapisa, Martin Zulu, Leroy Munyorovi and Abubakar Moffat.
There are also a number of UK-based players who have shown interest in playing for the Warriors.
Antipas will also take care of CHAN qualifiers which will give the local ensemble a chance to prove themselves.
