Kevin Mapasure

AFTER Zifa slammed the door shut on 82 Warriors who are Asiagate suspects many fringe players have been presented with the chance to make their case for regular places in the national soccer team.

But many have been knocking on the door and screaming for national recognition without success, and can now seize the opportunity to benefit from the fate of the match-fixing suspects.

Independentsport looks at some of the players that interim coach Rahman Gumbo has at his disposal as he draws up his squad.
Archford Gutu

The former Dynamos midfielder made a few appearances under former coach Norman Mapeza but failing to knuckle down a regular place in the team. But with the likes of Ovidy Karuru and Khama Billiat absent, he may be preferred for a midfield role. While some of the players fingered in the Asiagate scandal are likely to be exonerated or escape with fines, this is an opportunity for Gutu — now plying his trade in Sweden at Kalmar FF — to prove that he can do the job.

Abbas Amidu

He is one of the hottest emerging talents in Zimbabwe at the moment and recently signed for South African giants Kaizer Chiefs, but the winger rarely caught the eye of Mapeza. Amidu was a regular member of the national Under-23 side that failed to qualify for the All-Africa Games. Emerging from the Aces Youth Academy bossed by Marc Duvillard, Amidu is one of the more technically gifted players coming through the ranks. He failed a trial stint with Swedish sides but Zifa technical advisor Klaus Dieter Pagels remains determined to take him to Germany. The Burundi match could be a turning point in his international career and he could well plug the holes left by Karuru and Billiat.

Simba Sithole

He lit the Castle Lager Premier League with 10 goals in 10 games for Caps United then coached by Moses Chunga. To his credit he was a goal machine for the young Warriors too as they attempted to secure a place at the Maputo Games in matches against Zambia at home and away. Much has been expected from him but faced with the mammoth task of dislodging one of Asiagate’s prime suspects Nyasha Mushekwi and Bafana Bafana attacker Katlego Mphela he has found himself on the sidelines. But he could be the man to replace Mushekwi considering that both Cuthbert Malajila and Edward Sadomba are also out.

Tapiwa Kumbuyani

The Caps United full-back has deputised Gilbert Mapemba since his move from Blue Ribbon to the Green Machine. With Mapemba out, the door is ajar for the hard running and well traveled player. He played in the friendly matches against South Africa and Zambia and was brilliant going forward. His experience in these and other matches that he has been involved in may be useful for Gumbo who showed his admiration for the Gweru-born star by tempting him with a megabucks move to FC Platinum, a move that was blocked by Caps.

Rahman Kutsanzira

Kutsanzira had a brilliant season last year and was among the best 11 players in the local league last season. The striker seems to have made Caps United his new home after dumping Highlanders. But with knowledge Musona eligible and Sithole also in the mix, the striker could earn a berth on the bench, yet if he is to make it into the squad and get some minutes he can prove to be a worthy replacement. Kutsanzira is already a favourite with new Caps United manager Sean Connor after a brilliant show in South Africa where they were involved in a four-team training tournament.

Noel Kaseke

Kaseke featured for the Warriors under Mapeza and looked to have cemented a place, but an injury inspired layoff meant he was overtaken by Mapemba. Yet with this new development he could bounce back into reckoning and retain his place in the team.

Onisimor Bhasera

One of Zimbabwe’s finest talents playing his trade at Plymouth Argyle in England’s third tier league, Bhasera has been out of the Warriors colours for a long time after a lengthy injury lay off. Yet after his return Mapeza decided to give the player time to continue his quest to regain form and fitness at the club and excused him from the national team. But it may just be the time to recall the left back whose position has been filled-in by Vusa Nyoni who has been reinvented as a full-back having played further up the field.

Quincy Antipas

Now based in Denmark the former Caps United winger has enjoyed regular call-ups to the team in the last two years. But recently he was dropped by coach Mapeza with Karuru and Billiat getting the nod. But again with both out, it is an opportunity for him to play. 

Denver Mukamba

Mukamba has been called up before but has not quite got game time. The Dynamos star man has always shown that he can offer something, yet breaking into the team has been tough.

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