WARRIORS COACH Kalisto Pasuwa has named an indefatigable 26-member squad that will go into camp on Sunday night to begin preparations for Zimbabwe’s penultimate Group L 2017 Orange Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Malawi at the National Sports Stadium on June 5.
The history making coach has made a few changes to the squad that was involved in the last Group L assignments against Swaziland on Easter Monday.
Pasuwa has brought in rookie goalkeeper Tapiwa Chilenga with the young Triangle goal minder coming in for University of Pretoria’s Washington Arubi.
The coach also left out defenders Partson Jaure and Eric Chipeta from the squad.
He however, included hitherto unheard of young midfielder Andrew Gwaze who is playing for Gornik Zabrze in Poland as part of his drive to give more opportunities to younger players.
The younger players also form the bulk of the COSAFA Castle Cup squad which was also announced at a press conference on Tuesday.
The AFCON squad will be the first to go into camp with the COSAFA players coming in on Monday June 6.
Coach Pasuwa explained that he had been following Gwaze’s progress from the days when the player was a junior at former Premier Soccer League side Monomotapa.
“I have been monitoring him and I have some videos of him and he has been playing well at his club
“Like I have always said we have an open door policy in the national team and any Zimbabwean player who will be doing well will be considered and Gwaze has been playing very well.
“I will also consider such players like Tino Kadewere for future assignments,’’ Pasuwa said.
The Warriors coach who was flanked by team manager Sharif Mussa and ZIFA president Dr Philip Chiyangwa also explained that Jaure and Arubi’s club – University of Pretoria – had requested not to release them as they have to play relegation- promotional play-offs in the South African Premiership.
Pasuwa who is happy with the club form of such players like Khama Billiat and Tendai Ndoro warned against complacency against Malawi who are already out of the running for qualification for the 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon.
Although he dropped a few players, Pasuwa kept faith the core of the squad that currently enjoys leadership of the group log standings with eight points following wins over Malawi (away and Swaziland (home) which have sandwiched 1-1 draws against Guinea at home and Swaziland away.
Key players who include captain Willard Katsande, goalkeeper Tatenda Mukuruva, Costa Nhamoinesu, Knowledge Musona, Danny Phiri, Marvelous Nakamba and Nyasha Mushekwi have all been retained.
The Warriors will, move a gear up in their preparations when they host Uganda in an international friendly in Harare on May 31.
Meanwhile Jomo Cosmos striker Charlton Mashumba is the only foreign-based player in the COSAFA squad with the coach opting to use the regional tournament as a platform to continuously develop locally-based talent.
The Afcon squad

Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Tapiwa Chilenga (Triangle)
Defenders: Costa Mhamoinesu (Sparta Praga), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders), Onismo Bhasera (Bidvest FC), Elisha Muroiwa (Dynamos), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Blessing Moyo (Harare City)
Midfielders: Willard Katsande (Kaizer Chiefs), Marvellous Nakamba (Vitesse Arnhem FC), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn), Kudakwashe Mahachi (Golden Arrows), Marshal Mudehwe (FC Platinum), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn), Farai Madhanhanga (Harare City), Andrew Gwaze (Gornik Zabrze)
Strikers: Knowledge Musona (Ostende KV), Khama Billiat (Mamelodi Sundows), Nyasha Mushekwi (Dalian Yifang), Evans Rusike (Maritzburg), Cuthbert Malajila (Mamelodi Sundowns), Matthew Rusike (Helsingborgs IF), Tendai Ndoro (Orlando Pirates)
Cosafa squad
Goalkeepers: Tatenda Mukuruva (Dynamos), Donovan Bernard (How Mine), Nelson Chadya (Ngezi Platinum)
Defenders: Hardlife Zvirekwi (Caps United), Blessing Moyo (Harare City), Bruce Kangwa (Highlanders), Ronald Pfumbidzai (Caps), Lawrence Mhlanga (Chicken Inn), Teenage Hadebe (Chicken Inn), Elisha Muroiwa (Dynamos), William Stima (Tsholotsho)
Midfielders: Marshal Mudewhe (FC Platinum), Danny Phiri (Chicken Inn),Nqobizitha Masuku (FC Platinum) ,Farai Madanhanga (Harare City), Raphael Manuvire (Harare City), King Nadolo (Highlanders), Talent Chawapiwa (ZPC Karibha), Hillary Bakacheza (FC Platinum), Tafadzwa Kutinyu (Chicken Inn)
Strikers : Mitchel Katsvairo (Chicken Inn), William Manondo (Harare City),Walter Musona (FC Platinum), Chalton Mashumba (Jomo Cosmos), Obadiah Tarumbwa (Chicken Inn)